Sheryl Underwood: Black Hair is "Nasty" is No Laughing Matter

I couldn't let this Sheryl Underwood thing go on longer without adding my two cents. And oh, if you don't know what is going on or even who Sheryl Underwood is, watch the brief clip below and listen to her statements about black hair. Its a short clip, without it, nothing in this post will make an iota of sense.



Now, if Sheryl's comments about black "afro" hair as being "nasty" and not as good as the "silky" (ie white hair) doesn't appall you or at least cause your eyebrow to raise (right or left brow...doesn't matter) just move on to the next blog because this post isn't for you.

There is so much I can say about this but I will be brief and get right to it.

When will we learn to love ourselves?

Sheryl's comments, is every bit of a reflection of her inner demons. A woman who wears weaves and wigs, who by extension of her comments is to ashamed to reveal the hair that grows naturally out of her own head.
Black women have struggled for so long over our hair. From being told it was nappy, ugly and not as good as white hair, not just from whites but from well-meaning yet, ignorant elders or even our school teachers...for some, maybe even our parents.  It is the worse form of self hate. When we can't accept our blackness and those things that should be heralded as beautiful.  Sheryl's comments is an indication that some black women still don't love themselves. And that is a shame.

Sheryl has been taking a beating on Twitter, she has been called all types of rude, mean and evil names. That is unproductive and will not help. I can only imagine that she is retreating inside herself as I am sure she's been called these names before, as a matter of fact her comedy tells us such.  The joke isn't on her, its on a society that says black is bad and anything that is unique to black people is ugly.

We need to kill this lie and kill it dead.

So before you go off on Twitter on Sheryl, pray for her, mediate and send her good vibes. Because to stop hating others, she has to stop hating herself.

Mitt Romney's Post-Election Delusion

I sat down to read the Sunday Washington Post today, a Monday afternoon; yes, late I know but my usual practice. I was immediately drawn to an article on the post-election Mitt Romney by Dan Balz, titled Obama vs. Romney and The Future of Elections in America. Let me get this out of the way, I voted for Obama and I wasn't a huge fan of Romney's policies, lack of direction and intentional vagueness on key issues that characterized his campaign. I felt like Romney really just went whichever way the wind blew. Aside from his obvious adhesion to the world of privilege of being white, male and rich I really couldn't get a clear picture of this man who wanted to be my President and what he wanted to do for the 99% of Americans who are not filthy rich.

I believe the opportunity to learn after failing is huge, it is priceless. I feel that failure gives one the opportunity to begin again however more intelligently, more intentionally and more efficiently.  My initial thought was that the article would provide insight into a glimpse of humanity from Romney, at least an understanding of why he lost specifically why he lost voters like me...young, black, gay, progressive, college graduates, middle-class, small business owners, women. But, about halfway through the article I learned clearly, my hope was set too high because Romney learned absolutely nothing. This man clings to the same ideology that cost him the election this past November.

Romney's post-election delusion is the same as his pre-election delusion, completely out of touch. His insensitivity is offensive and his ignorance showcases itself as unapologetic arrogance. It's like being around someone with extremely bad breath, you just want to get away as fast as you can but you can't help but to wonder why they don't smell the vile odor coming from their mouth? Why is it that Romney is so out of touch with America?  When whether he felt he was going to win the 2012 election, here's what he said...

We believed that some of the polls that showed me not winning were just simply wrong, because they showed there was going to be more  turn-out from African American voters, for instance, than had existed in 2008. We said no way, absolutely no way. That can't be, because this was the fist time an African American president had run. Two thousand eight - that had to be the high point...

Yes, he actually said THAT. I just don't know how many types of wrong and offensive this is, but I am going to give it a stab and briefly touch on 3 invalid assumptions in his statement.


Blacks vote for Black people and only for Black candidates will Blacks go to the polls...
Malarkey! Thanks to Joe Biden for my new vocabulary word :-)

As someone who was able to vote since 1998, I voted the first time via absentee ballot (I was in Singapore) in a Presidential election in 2000...none of the candidates were black.  I'm black. I don't only go to the polls to vote for black candidates, the color of a candidates skin doesn't make me want to vote or not want to vote. Yes, the fact that we had a candidate for hope and change who happened to be black was wonderful. Yes, it was an amazing feeling to have the first Black President in the White House. But I would have voted for Obama even if he were white. 

I believe people were inspired, not because Obama was black (even though it was a proud moment, not just for Black America but for all America) but because of what he represented.  The Obama campaign did a great job of galvanizing people who were alienated by traditional politics of all races and backgrounds, that's why he won.

So for this man to somehow say that black people only came out to vote for Obama because he is black is insulting and shows a complete lack of understanding and stereotyping of a group of people he wanted to be President of.

Poll of likely voters
Polls survey those who are in the target audience. Meaning, a poll looking to see if people prefer pork cops or steak will not ask a group of vegetarians.  Polls survey likely voters. The fact that Romney thought that the polls surveyed black people in particular who in his opinion were unlikely to vote because the "mystique" of voting for the first Black President was over is as rational as Sarah Palin citing her foreign policy expertise as being able to "see Russia" from her house. Really?

The Black vote gave Obama the Presidency
Because no white people voted for Obama....none...and the black vote alone enough was to get the President elected. sigh and face palm. Do I need to elaborate on this? This is kind of like...hmmm...common sense.

3 strikes Mitt, you're out!

This man just does not get it and he continues not to get. I am not sure what can make him get it. All I can say is, I am so glad he is not my President!

Supreme Court to hear DOMA and Prop. 8 Cases

It seems as though the high court put this off as long as they could. But now at last, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the DOMA and Prop 8 cases.  This is a huge step for the LGBT community and advocates, and if the decision rendered is favorable, a huge advancement for civil rights.  I believe firmly that the rights of the LGBT community is a human rights issue.  These rights denied is a step back for human rights, for everyone, gay or straight. This is not an issue facing just a specific community of people, even though it impacts the directly the lives of the gay and lesbian community, this is an issue for us all.  

Now, while its not clear if even with a favorable decision in either of these cases that this will mean gay marriage across the country, this is without a doubt a huge first step in a direction towards that end.  

How we, as a country has continually denied the rights of our fellow Americans is beyond me.  It should leave a horrible taste in the mouths of all American's. The religious right has no standing or say in this battle, it is not above the beliefs of certain people, but the rights for all people.  If someone chooses to believe in a religion that dictates that gays are second-class citizens, then shame on them.  I will support their right to believe it; however, I will not support their decision to say that I should believe it too.  No ma'am! And I say this as a Christian.  I do not believe that being anti-gay is what Jesus would do. 

From a legal standpoint, there is no rational, logical argument against gay marriage. There is nothing.

So I for one am looking forward to 2013 when the Supreme Court weighs on these cases and hoping that this moves us one step closer to a nation where are all couples gay or straight enjoy marriage rights. 

Ted Nugent says to rip voting rights from welfare recipients

Ted Nugent wants to strip those on welfare of their right to vote. Arguing that by doing this, they are not able to vote to raise taxes on the rich, which, he claims is the hand that feeds them.  YES, he really said that. This children, is what you call batshitcrazy. Maybe we should do this, and Republicans will never win an election. After all, more red states have welfare recipients than blue. Sssssh, don't tell that to Ted.  Here is the full story.

Republicans keeping playing into the stereotype that stigmatizes them because it seems that its true.  The fundamental argument is that the Democratic base is poor, uneducated and on welfare and that is simply not true.  It's insulting.  They can't help but to insult those they oppose.  They can't just disagree, they insult.  And then they hold conferences and events trying to understand how they lost the election....they have an alternate reality in which only they exist!

Ted sir, please crawl in a hole and never return.  Please and thank you.

Morning Mimosa: Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Welcome to Morning Mimosa, here's a few stories I'm sipping on today...

Trouble in the Middle East, again.  This time it's Syria at the center of attention, Syria has their hands on chemical weapons. I no middle-east expert, not even close to it. But if you want to know more about what's going on, here is a good start.

Obama says "hell no" (okay, maybe that's not exactly what he said) to GOPs counter-offer budget deals.  Back to the drawing board.  Read about the White Houses' reaction to the GOP proposal here.

I had a 3rd story for you, but I'm too pissed to even post it here.  It's about George Zimmerman releasing a photo of him on the night he shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Pardon my french but FUCK GEORGE ZIMMERMAN!  The fact that he pursed Trayvon with a loaded gun says enough for me...Trayvon who was walking back to his dad's house whose only crime was being black. Glad Zimmerman is still alive to defend what he did, too bad Trayvon didn't have the same chance. 

In case you're interested the picture is here.

Morning Mimosa: Monday, December 3, 2012

Happy Monday!

Here's a look of some of the top news on my radar...

Finally, the issue of gay marriage has made it to the steps of the supreme court.  Personally, I think the whole gay marriage "issue" is ridiculous! If you don't like gay marriage...don't have one! It's kinda that simple. Why people think its their right to legislate love between two consenting adults is beyond me. Also, the fact that millions have been spent on this issue alone is crazy, how about the anti-gay marriage folks find a hobby, get a life and work on fixing their own marriages.  I am appalled at the notion that people can just vote to give or deny another individual the same rights they have. When you look at it from that very simple standpoint, this entire battle is just dumb.  But of course, since people refuse to let go of their own stupidity, this is what we see. But enough of my rant - The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on whether they will hear a slew of gay marriage cases dropped on their stairs Friday. It would be an injustice not to hear the cases. Let's see how they do with this.

No progress on the fiscal cliff has been made, both Republican and Democrat talking heads took to the airwaves to declare such over the past few days.  Republicans still won't budge, Democrats refuse to throw the middle class under the bus to allow the rich to not receive any tax cuts. Head over here for the scoop.

Finally, if you don't know anything about the Susan Rice fiasco or only know her and an incompetent  political operative that McCain and Co. are making her out to be; head over to CNN and check out this great article that explains the Libya situation, how Susan Rice was involved and what all the hub-bub is about.

Caption This!

I just had to make this a separate post. Mitt Romney looks to me completley uncomfortable here.  That look on his face is saying a thousand words.  You provide the caption!