Black History Month

The history of black people in the US of A is a colorful history that tends to get overlooked in common history textbooks and by people who were part of "The Greatest Generation." (By the way, Tom Brokaw is probably one of the most arrogant people on the planet if he thinks his generation is the greatest. In his book, he selectively forgot the negativity brought upon non-whites by whites born during his generation - those born between 1900 and 1925) And, in a sense, that's understandable. I don't agree, but I understand it. We tend to look at history through our own perspective, even if that means overlooking or marginalizing someone else. It's human nature.

However, I'm growing increasingly frustrated with black people. And it's coming to a boiling point. So now is a good time to express myself. Black History Month is all about recognizing the accomplishments of black people that get overlooked. It's about the realization that the "definition" of being black is not really... well... a black and white issue. Black people should know this. So if Black History Month is about recognizing accomplishments and re-definition, why do we do a better job than anyone else in putting each other down?!

What I'm talking about is nothing new. It's been going on for a very long time. Black people are the first to talk about how important black people are in sports, politics, and mass media. But black people are the first to yell venom-filled language at other black people when someone doesn't fit the mold. If they don't dance right, talk right, hang out in the right places, play the right sports, watch certain movies or tv shows, or have a certain job, all of a sudden, they are Uncle Toms or Snowflakes... REGARDLESS of how successful they are. So Wayne Brady is trying to be white. And J.C. Watts is an Uncle Tom. And no REAL black person would buy music from Cowboy Troy.

WHAT...

THE...

F*CK?!?!

Whatever happened to the diversity and glory of ALL aspects of black expression?!?! Whatever happened to blackness being defined as the ability to think for yourselves, instead of being constrained by boundaries... ESPECIALLY those set by your own race?!?! Black people, if you don't agree with someone of the same race, that DOES NOT mean they are sellouts! So this month, I'm going to highlight people who were considered innovators in their day, but would probably be considered sellouts IF people didn't know who the hell they were. To be continued...