IS IT 'COS I IS BLACK?

So, pampered chanteuse (if that is the right word for her) Mary J Blige reckons that the blacker you are, the worse America is for you! Interviewed in the Guardian, she claims;

If you cater to what white America wants you to do and how they want you to look, you can survive. But if you want to be yourself, and try to do things that fit you, and your skin, nobody cares about that. At the end of the day, white America dominates and rules. And it's racist.

So, Whitey is to blame for all the world's ills, eh? I wonder if she has phoned up Condi Rice to share this profound insight about this white domination? No? What about calling those many multi-million dollar black Baseball players to reveal her revelation? Nope? Maybe give multi-millionaire Harry Belafonte a call to share their common dislike of the country and people that give their riches and trinkets?

Mary J should stick to the music. This kind of infantile tripe does her no service at all.

Comments

[John Hustings]

I think what she says implies that behaving with decency and respectability, and wanting to pursue success, is a *white* thing to do.

Harry Belafonte once called Colin Powell an "uncle Tom" presumably because he dresses in suits, speaks respectably, and takes an interest in politics beyond race issues. Apparently that is betraying your race and where you come from.

People like that pigeonhole other black people into a way of behaving that keeps them down. How are black people supposed to succeed, if doing so is interpreted as "acting white"?

[David Vance]

John.

Quite right. Belafonte is a complete basket-case, I've read quite a lot about HIM and yet he is lionised by the left.

[The Troll]

Mary J Bilge... Yeah did she mention New Orleans she was ranting about that the other day saying look at what this racist government did there except there was a little problem with what all the racist black bigots that screamed foul... The dead in NO didn't play along more whites died than blacks. Either way it was horrible but it certainly wasn't racist.

PS I know the majority of you don't visit my site however, Time mag, just did its People Who Mattered 2005 and man was it wacky I did a point by point on it and Tony Blair is one of there mentions you might want to check it out..

[Monica-Philadelphia]

It's interesting isn't it? This woman is saying that black people must act in the way that SHE thinks they should act.

I've heard people accuse Condoleeza Rice of not being 'black enough'. A successful black person is regarded by people who say such things, no matter WHAT their success, as not being a black thing to do. You could point to all of the black people in America who are living, working, contributing to the strength of our country and it just wouldn't matter to the Mary J. Bliges of the world.

It's really a disgusting and racist thing for her to say.

I recently read a study about blacks and government education in America. It seems that young blacks who succeed in school are subjected to this type of abuse - they are not 'black enough'. The study found that blacks in private school fare much better because that type of thing is not a part of their existence. I've witnessed it first hand on my block - a young man being harassed because he got 'above average' on his test. I almost intervened because I have a terrible time keeping my mouth shut. (as you all know...) One of the other kids in the group finally told him to stop - not that he did..but...anyhoo - he finally tired of his little game and left.

[willowfield]

Kids of all races get "harassed" for doing well in school. In my school you got called a "swot".

Stop reading race issues into everything.

[Monica-Philadelphia]

Not true. It wasn't my experience as a white kid in school. It isn't the experience of the white kids I know now who are in school and proud members of the honor roll.

If you hadn't noticed - this entry was ABOUT race. Did you notice that? Oh - you were too busy being a dickhead to notice that? Okay - go back about your business then.

[willowfield]

Well, I'm white and it was my experience. So that proves you wrong, doesn't it? Maybe your life experience is limited to the comfortable middle classes?

Less of the foul language and personal abuse, please. It indicates an inability to engage in constructive dialogue.

[Monica-Philadelphia]

Er Willowfield. You are assuming that I grew up in the comfortable middle class.

Er Willowfield. You are assuming that I now live in a comfortable middle class school district.

Er Willowfield. You would be wrong. Again.

Er Willowfield. You are unable to engage in constructive dialog even WITHOUT the use of the word 'dickhead'.

[Jett Loe]

Was raised in Oakland, California - in a black area of a very black city. School was 95% black - but a whole variety of shades of black - what I observed was that the blacker you were the worse you were treated - period. My friends who are black will tell you the same - if you 'high-yellow' you get treated differently than someone who's chocolate-nut brown...

[James Hellyer]

It is worrying that some black people seem to see succeeding in our society, or in the US, as a betrayal of their roots. I've even heard Sir Trevor MacDonald described as a "coconut" for having sold out, worn a suit, and being knighted by the Queen...

It's that sort of attitude that condemns black people to self-ghettoisation.

[The Troll]

over here they are called oreo's or uncle toms...and a couple of other things to inflamatory for me to say

[willowfield]

Monica

Er Willowfield. You are assuming that I grew up in the comfortable middle class. Er Willowfield. You are assuming that I now live in a comfortable middle class school district.

I am indeed. If I am wrong, you are perfectly free to advise me otherwise.

Anyway, the point is that I am white and my experience was that people who did well in school were mocked by other whites. So that proves you wrong that only blacks do this.

[John Hustings]

"Anyway, the point is that I am white and my experience was that people who did well in school were mocked by other whites. So that proves you wrong that only blacks do this."

There is a difference between being mocked and being accused of betraying your race.

[willowfield]

Indeed, but in Monica's witness statement she refers only to a black getting harassed.

[James Hellyer]

Yes, in the sense that a black kid was picked on for doing well and thus not being black enough, or abandoning their culture. That's different from the usual classroom bullying of the "square" or "swot" - such actions aren;t motivated by racial profile.

[willowfield]

No, not in that sense. All she witnessed was a black kid getting harassed: no mention of any accusations of culture abandonment.

And you make my point for me - bullying or harassment of kids that get good grades is not generally motivated by "racial profile". That was my point all along.

[James Hellyer]

"All she witnessed was a black kid getting harassed: no mention of any accusations of culture abandonment."

The point of the post was that she believed that was the cause. That she failed to make it explicit in the example does not detract from that.

"bullying or harassment of kids that get good grades is not generally motivated by "racial profile"."

However, a lot of additional pressure is applied to black children by those who believe they are abandoning or betraying their roots. That's why slurs like "Uncle Tom" and "coconut" do the rounds...

[Monica-Philadelphia]

You might's well give up James. Willowfield is mad at me for disagreeing with him/her/it.

You are being very clear by the way. Thank you. Apparently I wasn't being clear.

[Nationalist]

I always find it interesting to listen to white people talk about how a black person is wrong about how they feel and to disagree with the experiences they have had. Whitey knows best. Those Blackies have it all wrong. How stupidtly condescending.

[James Hellyer]

I think what's "stupidtly condescending" is the idea that some things "fit your skin", as Mary J puts it. How can skin colour be seen a bar on certain types of behaviour, unless Mary J is racist...

[Nationalist]

Your absolutely right James in our integrated harmonious society there is not a single thing that a white person can do that a black person can't and vice versa. We can all live well with one another.

I'm white and I hear racism against blacks all the time from people on the street, people in shops, so-called mates and the sad sickening part is that I can scream and shout all I want for people to stop but they (the racists) dont care. To them they are right and I am wrong.

But you're right James - just keep telling yourself white is right

(sarcasm dripping)

[James Hellyer]

What are you talking about? Your post makes no sense at all, unless you conflating someone experiencing racism with their "race" being unable to do something. In which case, you are not only offensive, but stupidly so.

Racist sentiments expressed towards a black person does not mean that they are either unable to succeed, or that members of their own community don't resent that success.

Oh, and don't try and pull that "white equals right" crap again, as I never said anything of the kind.

[Sean Fear]

Tony Sewell has often written and spoken about how black boys *do* get accused of "acting white" by other black boys if they work hard at school. He thinks its a major factor in underperformance by black boys at school.

[The Troll]

james nationalist is a bigger fool than willowfield

[Sean Fear]

Willowfield isn't a fool. He's often spot on.