Systematic Lynchings

It's odd, but most often when a Black woman is lynched in the media...it is by her own people.


Although I applaud my race on the long-delayed burial of the "N" word, and their unity in defense of the young women of Rutger's Basketball Team, One just could NOT let this one thought go:

'They are still lynching Condi Rice.'

For a people of such diversity...we sure appear unforgiving toward the slightest deviations of those in our 'original and unique' culture. Like the cause of Feminism, the Black Power Movement was for those who wanted to have freedom of choice. Why then do we 'crucify' those who seem to most exercise that choice?

I remember the first time one felt the silent outpouring of sympathy for a Black woman treated as though she did not belong. It was for Lisa Bonet. She was so adorable to me- in interviews and on the sitcom "The Cosby Show" (1984-1992). Her eclectic style on the show wasn't that original; my mother looked up the creators to see if any of them knew our family because, as she put it "I had a 'Denise' YEARS ago! They stole that thrift store couture and avant-garde personality from my second-oldest daughter." Expounding on my girl-crush outloud once, someone stated "Yeah she's fine, but she probably doesn't date Black guys." With all the information I'd consumed on Ms. Bonet, I didn't recall anything about her dating anyone period. This person was obviously in err. When she dated/married Lenny Kravitz I was elated to inform that same person that she didn't just date- but married- a Black man. "He ain't BLACK! He's half-white...just like her." The error was mine: I assumed he was calling her Blackness into question because he assumed she dated interracially- not that that matters. Instead, always, in his mind she would not 'belong' because she was bi-racial.

The second and third times came almost simultaneously. Holly Robinson and Robin Givens. Both, at the time, were dating White men; and did so for a few years. While they were dating these "other men", neither was featured in any lists of Black women who were successful/beautiful/notable without tons of letters berating them as 'not Black enough' or 'a shame to our race (fill in reason here)'. Poor Holly's career never got mentioned until she married the football player Rodney Peete. Then there was a pictorial in every magazine- like Black people had just discovered her. I always liked Holly, but she was called "token" while on "21 Jumpstreet"(1987-1991); and virtually ignored in any Indie film and sitcom (remember "Hanging with Mr. Hooper" 1992-1997?) she starred in. Her talent didn't 'get better' she just married 'Black'. She was engaged to the guy that played Eric on "Head of the Class"(1986-1991) for years {he now produces "Smallville" and directed "Norbit"}.

Ms. Givens's Harvard Medical School creds were negated BY BLACKS and Whites alike until a reporter did the unthinkable; he called the Medical School to confirm. "She took the MCAT and scored VERY well. She applied and was accepted, but was unable to attend due to financial reasons..." was the reply from the school. Then her reportedly abusive marriage to Mike Tyson where some men actually made light of the abuse, or worse, justified the abuse by calling her a "golddigger"- and worse! Black men...you know, the protectors of Black women? Each role she had in a Black film reflected their animosity toward her- femme fatale; vixen; thieving liar; heartbreaking harlot. I think even after the baby with Jensen, people still wanted to talk about her, but had a new target...we'll get to her soon. Recently I was thinking: 'actresses like Halle Berry and Kerry Washington have fared better dating interracially while still gaining acceptance from the Black community. Maybe times are changing...' Or maybe everyone is too focused on Dr. Rice.

That's right- she's a Ph.D. She graduated from high school and college- EARLY- even though she changed majors her junior year. She is the consummate overachiever; a triple threat with beauty, brains and power. But you would think she was that misguided girl 'Superhead' the way people tear down her good name! You would think she was the infamous and tawdry 'Yellow Rose of Texas' (that Creole tart!) the way people dehumanize her worth. No...she happens to be one of THE most powerful women in the world during a time when America is exercising her full power abroad. I remind people how we THE CROWD asked our president for blood...and he gave us our wish. Convenient Amnesia, of course. No one wants to be unpopular, especially when you have been the teaser on the playground. It's hard to feel superior when no one likes you and thinks you're crappy. The Dixie Chicks' premature exasperation was only a precursor to the 'it's hip to be a hater' attitude many have taken.

Reading her biography and Michael Eric Dyson's "Debating Race With Michael Eric Dyson" back-to-back helped me see the contradiction more clearly both pre-, during and post-Imus. Dyson once wrote a book entitled "Why I Love the Black Woman"...apparently he forgot the chapter on 'agree with my politics or be high-tech lynched!'. He has called Dr. Rice some God-awful names...everything but a child-of-God. Which seems odd for a black man who claims to love Black woman and is a MINISTER. Yes, odd indeed! I agree with some of his observations on our race, yet not all. But one would be hardpressed to find me calling him a fornicating, teen-fathering, high-falutin', piggish, wanna-be, playa'-hatin' hypocrite. I was a Deb and don't stoop to that level. However, Dr. Dyson has gone there in the name of Dr. Rice being a conservative and he, a liberal. It is not that, trust me; he is much more respectful to conservative males. His book "Why I Love.." is more of 'thou doth protest too much' if you ask me. But he probably wouldn't- I'm a Black woman; a Republican; a Catholic...you know, one of those types he and small-minded African-Americans attack within their own race?

We have all mentioned- sometimes in whispers- that what was said post-Imus was true about the culture of disrespect...could we extend our understanding to a living historical figure like Secretary of State, Dr. Rice?



No, one didn't forget the content of this blog! I'm just politicking Hollywood.