The Black Family

The Winslows, The Cosbys, The Kyles, The Hughleys, these families all have at least one thing in common, successful black families. There was a time when these things were in abundance on TV. That time however is long gone. You can barely find a black person on TV let alone a while family. I miss the days of the black sitcom. There are no more hard working fathers trying to instill wholesome values to their children. Hey at least we got Cleveland Brown right....? But you don't get it, so whateva nigga.......
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If I Ruled the World

 

“You can have all the chips be poor or rich, still nobody want a nigga having shit.” Sadly this statement is as true now as it was 14 years ago when Nas spoke it. If you take a look at it there are really no positive black images portrayed on tv. Even our so called own channel, BET, mostly shows negative images of African Americans. You will see plenty images of our celebrities going to prison and getting involved in other immoral behavior, but you will not see the images of those that give back and try to uplift people. You don’t hear about Ludacris and Big Boi of Outkast giving back to the community. Nobody knows that Pharrell gives out food to the needy every year. Our children know every lyric to a Wacka Flocka song, but have no idea who Dr. Ben Carson is. We rarely think of the consequence of  what the media puts in front of us has on our communities. Our daughters are being portrayed as having attitudes, and being nothing but eye candy. Our sons are shown as drugs dealers and overall thugs. We cant expect people to treat us better until we understand that they have no respect for us and have no consideration for our feelings. The truly sad part is that we don’t either as African Americans. We belittle each other just as much as they do to us. When somebody tries to tell us something for the betterment of each other, we usually get the same response…yea, whateva nigga….

Give Me Some Credit

It amazes me how people can want credit for something they supposed to do. You take care of your kids and you've never been to jail. That's great you're supposed to take care of your kids and not go to jail. It seems that people are lacking in the praise department and are looking for it anyway they can get it. Don't get me wrong I'm glad to see people thriving as productive citizens. Asking for praise for something you supposed to do is like asking for credit for breathing. You are not always going to get credit for doing the right thing. Be happy in knowing that you have down what you are supposed to......but whateva nigga...
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Closet Hating…..

Have you ever had some good news or a good idea and told one of your “friends” and they reply with the stomach virus face? It seems that these days nobody can be happy for somebody without wanting to make the happy person as miserable as they are. Its the old crabs in a barrel theory. Happiness should be contagious but its the hating that seems to get passed around. If you have been having a rough time of late and things start to go your way, its like no you can’t be happy. People start to plant seeds of doubt in everything you do. Just because you’re miserable and unhappy doesn’t mean I have to be too. We need to uplift people that are making better choices for themselves instead of tearing each other down with back biting, rumors, and hating. Next time somebody gives you good news be happy for them and take it as a sign that maybe you need to make some changes too….but I know what you thinking, whateva nigga…..

Dumb It Down….

 

Ever notice that the lyrics to the most popular music are fairly simple….? We live in a time where nobody wants to think too hard. Its shows in our youth. Hip Hop went from being messages to the people to sometimes being blatant advertisements for bad behavior. Music like that of Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, even 2 Pac, is long gone. Today music is all about partying and bullshit. Now there are artists like Lupe Fiasco, Common, Talib Kweli, Kanye West(the old Kanye, before his mother passed), that carry on the torch of the early music. We don’t realize that people judge us on the music we listen to. So all that partying and ass shaking is how the world views us as a people. Until we change what we accept as ok the world will always view us the same. The key is education. Dumb it down….? I think not….but you ain’t listening so, whateva nigga……

Uncommonly Normal

So plenty of times, I have been told I am weird and or abnormal by people who realistically are the abnormal ones themselves. So, to entertain their thoughts I wanted to know what in their minds makes ME the weird one. These are some of the things I have heard:
 What kind of college student doesn't drink, you're so lame!
 What you mean you don't have any kids!
 You ain't got no baby daddy! Wow
 Damn you aint get none this weekend!
To further prove my point, I was at the local baby momma hotspot aka Wal-Mart to pick something up and I saw a few girls ( yes, I say girls because their minds aren't that of a woman yet) from high school. Now, I didn't have the best relationship with them in high school but I am grown woman so I wasn't even paying them attention. But at soon as they spotted me the first thing out of their mouths was "Look at her, she alone! That must mean she still ain't found a man." Now I wasn't even sure how to respond to such ignorance. They continue by saying "we got babies bc we were able to find a man who wanted us! The only reason you don't have a baby is bc you ugly" At this point, I just laughed.
But, that situation made me think.
How can having 3 kids before the age of 21 be normal? Unfortunately, it has become common but there is no way in hell that, that is normal! It saddens me to see that more and more children are having children. I know when I was in high school (I sound so old lol), there was at least 20+ girls with babies or about to have babies.
On a whole other note, now that I am in college I have notice the thing to do it to drink to the point that you pass out. No way in hell, that is normal either! Why on earth, as a lady, would I want to put myself in that situation. I guess being passed out on the floor; face in my own puke is the thing to do nowadays. Well, I am going to have to respectfully decline. I know that I am not perfect and I will tell you up front that I enjoy having a good time and partying with friends and trust me I do make mistakes. But I do try to prevent certain things.
Anyways,
The things I do are nowhere abnormal. Uncommon? Yes, but not abnormal. I am not a heavy drinker. When I have a man's child, I can guarantee you that I will be his wife first. I do believe in getting an education, and getting my life together first before I bring a child into the world.. My way of thinking sounds pretty normal to me, but like I said not too common.
So I guess, I am UNCOMMONLY NORMAL.
I am not here to knock anyone but sled light that we can do better. But I already know what your thinking,
"YEAH, whatever nigga!"
-Sharonica

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Whateva Nigga……The Beginning

The Boondocks television show has been associated with the African American subculture since its beginnings as a comic strip. It has caused much up-roar for its controversial and blunt way of addressing issues that apply to the African American subculture. The creator Aaron McGruder uses these controversial methods, to inform those of the African American subculture about today’s issues that impact them and how to improve their selves. Many of those who do not belong to the African American subculture find his methods to be absolutely offensive and shameful. However, his intended audience has created a faithful following of viewers.

The Boondocks cartoon television series originated from the daily comic strip written by Aaron McGruder. The Boondocks is a social satire of American culture and race relations, revolving around the lives of the Freeman Family- ten-year-old Huey, his younger brother, eight-year-old Riley, and their grandfather, Robert. The Freeman family, having recently moved from the South side of Chicago to the peaceful, fictional suburb of Woodcrest, find different ways to cope with this acute change in setting as well as the drastically different suburban cultures and lifestyles to which they are exposed. The perspective offered this mixture of cultures, lifestyles, and races provides for much of the comedy in this series. The Boondocks TV series is widely known for its cutting-edge humor and unapologetic, sometimes unpopular, views on various issues, including race, politics, the war on terrorism and the Sept 11. One of McGruder’s most controversial episodes was the “Return of the King” episode. In this episode McGruder has his character Huey Freeman tells of an alternate version of the history regarding the “attempted” assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Instead of being killed, Dr. King falls into a deep coma and wakes up October 27, 2000. McGruder begins this episode with two quotes, the first being:

“ I want young men and young woman who are not alive today to know and see that these new privileges and opportunities did not come without somebody suffering and sacrificing for them.”

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

And the second:

“Whatever, nigga”

-Anonymous

Of course initially many were offended by this opening to this episode, however it did grasp their attention.

McGruder’s reasoning for writing this episode was to challenge the youth of the African American subculture to evaluate their behavior and to make think about how hard Dr. King fought to give them the freedoms they have today. He wanted to point out how many of those in the African American subculture were presenting their selves in a way Dr. King would disapprove of if alive today.

In this episode McGruder brings to light many problems African Americans face today because of their ignorance. In this episode, Dr. King faces much scrutiny because of his “turn the other cheek” way of thinking. Dr. King appears on Politically Incorrect, stating that his Christian faith teaches him to “turn the other cheek”, even with respect to enemies such as Al-Qaeda. His commentary receives severe scorn from the white House Press Secretary, CNN, and Time magazine, and causes his popularity to plummet. McGruder uses this as an example of how Dr. King’s teachings are ideal however not realistic to many modern Americans.

McGruder furthermore has Dr. King meet Huey and they begin to express their disgust with the state of black popular culture. To help increase Dr. King’s popularity again, Huey convinces Dr. King to try to reach out to the public again and that they should start a political party. The goal of their party is disrupted when Dr. King hires an “urban promotions firm” to advertise the party’s planning meeting, which advertise it on an FM radio pop music station as a “party”. As a result, dozens of young black people arrive at the church and being behaving as though it were a club. Dr. King is immediately stunned by their unrestrained behavior and is shocked to see that the podium has been taken over by a series of rappers, televangelists, and other superficial black pop culture icons.

Dr. King suddenly proclaims, “WILL YOU IGNORANT NIGGAS PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP?!”

Not only was the crowd shocked but this scene also shocked and outraged many of McGruder’s viewers.

McGruder continues with Dr. King asking “Is this it? This is what I got all those ass-whooping for?”

Dr. King continues to refer to the audience as “niggas” out of apparent frustration that current generation of black people have will fully assumed the negative racial stereotypes associated with.

Although this climatic scene goes considerably too far in the minds of those who oppose this episode, it did shed light to many problem that the African American subculture face today.

McGruder ends this episode with Dr. King’s tyrant being the flame to light the torch for African Americans to better their selves. After the media exposed his speech, black citizens become angry with their situations and begin to change to what Dr. King would have been proud of, if alive today.

The overall mood of this episode is meant to be comical, however it has a very serious under tone. The point of tension in this episode is Kings arrival to the “promotion party” in which he instantly become s outraged with anger. In this episode, this is a problem that needs to be solved; however the problem that is raised is by far more complex than the normal situation comedy problem. McGruder wanted this episode to be a thought-provoking way to show Dr. Kings bravery and what he stood for. He also wanted to bring to light how African Americans as a whole would highly disappoint Dr. King if he had actually returned to view today’s African American subculture.

McGruder intensions were never meant to degrade African Americans, rather to get them to think about their behavior. McGruder is highly scrutinized for his use of the word “nigga” in this episode. In his defense, I believed he wanted to challenge African Americans to get out of this “whatever nigga” mentality. He further more wanted this episode to encourage African Americans to continue to take action, and make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proud to have fought and died for them.

(Thank you, Sharonica Smedley)

With that said in this blog we will try to point out these issues, not to criticize but, for understanding that we as a people MUST do better. But you don’t hear us, so Whateva nigga………..