My life is multifaceted as is everyone else. In light of what has happened in the USA in regards to Paula Deen and Trayvon Martin, I wanted to share my thoughts, even if no one asked.
I Am My Father's Daughter.
My father has been deceased for more than 25 years. He was born October 1907, in Florida and was adopted in his early years. He and my mom decided to adopt four of us in the 60′s, when it was extremely unusual for anyone on their fifties to journey down that path. My father loved listening to the pundits, and watching politicians get caught up in scandal and try to wiggle their way out.
I remember getting into heated debates with my father regarding poverty, race, religion and the South. For years after his death whenever I heard the song The Living Years, I thought about my father and us not seeing eye to eye.
Fast forward to the present. At 50 this once young college socialist is still evolving. These past few weeks definitely have had me thinking about politics, race and religion. The hypocrisy of the media as well as the pundits has been astounding to me in regards to Paula Deen, Trayvon Martin and Zimmerman. My thoughts are as long as people the world over call people outside of their names, then we cannot make assumptions or judge others. In the case of Paula Deen, her case is obviously about money. If Paula Deen said “Nigger”, and did not have any money, there would not be case. What’s ironic is that the person suing her is not African American. The media had a field day with this story, and many of her sponsors dropped her. The truth of the matter is that the media as well as many of her sponsors are not interested in race relations, unless it will boost their ratings or money is to be gained. I am not saying what she said is politically correct, nor am I saying that I approve of calling people Nigger. When White Americans start using the vernacular interchangeably among themselves, only then will the word lose power.
Although the media nor has anyone else has asked me my opinion regarding the Trayvon Martin case, well we all have one. Travon Martin did not deserve to die. I do believe it was an accident, and what can we learn from that. First off, here in the USA, too many people have guns that should not be carrying them. Secondly, Zimmerman and Paula Deen should not be the punching bag for wait ails the Black community. Facebook and Twitter is filled with pundits twitting about the racism of our country. If these same pundits as well as the media would reframe the discussion on what to do at large to help our communities in this country that have major issues, and show how this impacts us all globally. A good example of this was Ms. Rachel Jeantel. We have an African Amerian woman, who did not finish high school, and who did not know how to purport herself in a court of law. Ms. Jeantel also stated that her parents pay her bills. Our community is filled with young people who are jobless. When on the Piers Morgan show he asked her if their was anything that she really wanted to say while she was on the stand in court, and all she could say was “Nigga”, I thought what a sad state for this country. That this 19 year old woman could not articulate anything else but that. The majority of African American children are born in homes with one parent. In the inner-cities the dropout rates for minorities are close to 50% and higher. The unemployment rate is staggering, and crimes in most inner cities are committed by minorities against minorities usually drug-related. African American parents especially need to have a heart to heart talk with themselves. We are responsible for raising our children! I can say this because as an adopted child, my birthmother had 13 children, and only the four of us that were adopted were not raised by the streets. Of the remaining nine, only one turned out. The rest live off of the system and are in and out of jail or are on drugs. You cannot blame racism for that.
Why is the media and the talking heads, not taking these issues on? The answer is because the picture is not pretty, and no one generally wants to hear it. Sensationalism sells, and people buy it lock step and barrel. I realized that if my father were here today, we would have agreed on the story of Paula Deen and Tayvon Martin.
I Am My Father's Daughter.
My father has been deceased for more than 25 years. He was born October 1907, in Florida and was adopted in his early years. He and my mom decided to adopt four of us in the 60′s, when it was extremely unusual for anyone on their fifties to journey down that path. My father loved listening to the pundits, and watching politicians get caught up in scandal and try to wiggle their way out.
I remember getting into heated debates with my father regarding poverty, race, religion and the South. For years after his death whenever I heard the song The Living Years, I thought about my father and us not seeing eye to eye.
Fast forward to the present. At 50 this once young college socialist is still evolving. These past few weeks definitely have had me thinking about politics, race and religion. The hypocrisy of the media as well as the pundits has been astounding to me in regards to Paula Deen, Trayvon Martin and Zimmerman. My thoughts are as long as people the world over call people outside of their names, then we cannot make assumptions or judge others. In the case of Paula Deen, her case is obviously about money. If Paula Deen said “Nigger”, and did not have any money, there would not be case. What’s ironic is that the person suing her is not African American. The media had a field day with this story, and many of her sponsors dropped her. The truth of the matter is that the media as well as many of her sponsors are not interested in race relations, unless it will boost their ratings or money is to be gained. I am not saying what she said is politically correct, nor am I saying that I approve of calling people Nigger. When White Americans start using the vernacular interchangeably among themselves, only then will the word lose power.
Although the media nor has anyone else has asked me my opinion regarding the Trayvon Martin case, well we all have one. Travon Martin did not deserve to die. I do believe it was an accident, and what can we learn from that. First off, here in the USA, too many people have guns that should not be carrying them. Secondly, Zimmerman and Paula Deen should not be the punching bag for wait ails the Black community. Facebook and Twitter is filled with pundits twitting about the racism of our country. If these same pundits as well as the media would reframe the discussion on what to do at large to help our communities in this country that have major issues, and show how this impacts us all globally. A good example of this was Ms. Rachel Jeantel. We have an African Amerian woman, who did not finish high school, and who did not know how to purport herself in a court of law. Ms. Jeantel also stated that her parents pay her bills. Our community is filled with young people who are jobless. When on the Piers Morgan show he asked her if their was anything that she really wanted to say while she was on the stand in court, and all she could say was “Nigga”, I thought what a sad state for this country. That this 19 year old woman could not articulate anything else but that. The majority of African American children are born in homes with one parent. In the inner-cities the dropout rates for minorities are close to 50% and higher. The unemployment rate is staggering, and crimes in most inner cities are committed by minorities against minorities usually drug-related. African American parents especially need to have a heart to heart talk with themselves. We are responsible for raising our children! I can say this because as an adopted child, my birthmother had 13 children, and only the four of us that were adopted were not raised by the streets. Of the remaining nine, only one turned out. The rest live off of the system and are in and out of jail or are on drugs. You cannot blame racism for that.
Why is the media and the talking heads, not taking these issues on? The answer is because the picture is not pretty, and no one generally wants to hear it. Sensationalism sells, and people buy it lock step and barrel. I realized that if my father were here today, we would have agreed on the story of Paula Deen and Tayvon Martin.
4 comments:
Crystal,
It's so true. At some level I think the media is desecrating the memory of Trayvon by all the sensationalism they are broadcasting. But I also know your comments come from an angry heart because you feel as powerless as so many of us over what happened.
I am not one to quote scripture ever, but there is one verse on my mind this difficult week clamoring to get out:
Matthew 25:40 - And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
My heart bleeds for Martin's parents and for all of us trying to make sense of this senseless tragedy. My apologies to you and the rest of the African-American community. What happened was a criminal act in my opinion and there is no way to rationalize or forget what happened.
Damn you Jon, you know you have a special place for me, and what you have shared is probably right...I know longer know what I can do to help. My feeling is that we all start with family. I have been doing that for years. Hugs to you...for those of us who have used a surrogate in India, I would like to start a foundation to help surrogates educate their children. If you are interested along with other's, I think it would matter.
Please follow our blog: An Indian perspective, fighting back: http://concernedaboutsurrogacyinindia.blogspot.com.au/
This is gorgeous!
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