On January 15 2005 at 10:35pm the strong black single mother disappeared without a riot or uproar.
Some say she died from being everything to everyone and nothing to herself.
From being a mother and a father and yet not enough
From working too hard to fulfill a child she’s afraid may grown up feeling empty.
From trying to raise a man but not having a good example
From relative hands up her skirt
From believing their was love at the other end of that fist
From attempting to give love and be loved but isn’t sure what it looks like.
She died from believing the lies and misconceptions about men that she learned from her mother and her mother learned from her mother.
She died from confusing domesticity and independence
She died from being too much for some men and not enough for others.
She died from suppressed dreams and unreached goals
She died from holding her child too tight and not holding God tight enough
She died from the persecuting eyes of elderly church-goers
She died from men saying her child was burden and not a blessing and believing them
And when she stood up in the face of adversity and spoke out against mannerisms of degradation, she suffered from standing alone and not being loud enough
She suffered from a lover not ready to be a father
She suffered from bearing pregnancy alone
She suffered from depression, guilt, regret and disappointment
She suffered from standing in WIC and food stamps lines and feeling sub-human
She suffered from not having money for an abortion, lacking maturity for parenthood, or the ability to give her baby away
And when she tried to get another spoonful from the giant bowl of strength she suffered when she reached and found it empty
The strong Black single mother is dead. Tired of judgmental eyes who looked at her pregnant belly and a bare left hand
Tired of man-bashing females thinking they are helping her cope
Tired of swollen feet and morning sickness on the days she has class
Tired of leaking breasts in grocery stores every time another baby cries
Tired of fainting in public because her body made the baby a priority
Tired of thinking about how it will feel when she spends 10 hours of labor alone in a cold hospital room
But while others showed signs of implosion leaving their babies in dumpsters and thrown in lakes some realized that this black hole of uncertainty and fear isn’t so deep
Some realized that the world will only conduct their lives if they let it
Some realized that their life experiences are merely lessons, meant to bring them closer to self knowledge and self love.
Some lived knowing that at the very least there is someone else they have to live for
She is willing and without regret to live as if her life is not just her own
She knows that love is a necessary gift and gives it without boundaries
She re-evaluates her life, morals, and actions because now she has someone watching and learning her every move
She cries when she isn’t sure what to do but laughs when he smiles at her in the mist of her confusion
She continues on although she is the last rung on the ladder climbing an uphill battle with her family in her belly the community on her back, her race on her shoulders with her head held high looking towards an unwritten future.
But the strong Black single mother is dead. But is she really? I know I am still here.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
What is the ideal man?
Now, easily stepping my foot back in the dating pool (more so with EXTREME hesitance) I have decided to evaluate what type of man is MY ideal man. I have never done this before with complete focus, so now is a good time to. Not only is it important to make a list of necessary characteristics but also a reason why. A lot of time we women say general things like, "I want him to be nice, caring, sweet..." etc. but what does that mean exactly? What would make him nice or caring or sweet? I think many times we don't know what we want so when we get what we think we want and we don't know what to do with it. Therefore a list (with reasonings)may help with this thought process.
1) He has to love kids
This is a given. I have a son and I want more children
2)Have to be a proactive parent
Whoever if marry (if i get married)will have to be a father. A ready-made father at that. I don't want to be the only parent in charge of punishments or praise. He needs to be ready to fulfill a role
3) Willing to adopt at least one child
There are so many un-adopted black children in America and people are willing to travel half-way around to world to get other children. Black boys are the least adopted and many travel through the foster system their whole lives feeling unwanted. And we wonder why our Black men are more likely to end up in prison rather than college.
4) Not have any kids
Yes that sound VERY contradictory since I have a child, but it is more of a preference than a necessity. He won't have to worry about my son's father but most likely his child won't be in his home. The child will most likely be staying with the mother or a relative. I would rather not have to deal with baby-mama drama. But again its a preference.
5)Over 6'2''
This may sound superficial but I'm tall and I have dated guys shorter than me and it makes me uncomfortable. I don't fell feminine. People say I have to just suck it up because I'm tall and the average man is shorter than me, but all of that is relative. Whether you are 5'6 woman or a 6'6 woman at the end of the day if he is shorter than you he is SHORT to YOU. It just feels weird to me and I don't like it.
6) Can make a significant financial contribution to the houseold
I got in a conversation with a group of guys about this and they made me out to be a golddigger. I don't see how that can be. Statistics show that as a black woman wating a relationship with a black man, I will most likely have the most education, the best job and make the most money. I'm ok with making the most money, but don't want to support him. And I don't mean support in a "good job honey, i'm here to support you" kind of way. I mean I don't want to support in a "honey I just paid the rent/morgage, electric bill, car note, insurance, phone bill, and cable. Could you please...maybe put some gas in the car...possibly...please." I'm not having it. MOST of the woman in my family are supporting their men. And when I say most I mean like I can think of 2 yes TWO women who don't provide the main support. My mother, grandmother, aunts, uncle's girlfriends/wives/fiances, all are the finaicial backbone for the household. When my mother was hurt on the job and had to recover there was little help from her husband. Lights were turned off, bills weren't paid and my mother couldn't recover completely with assurance. She had to go back to work early in order for everything to go back to normal. I don't want that. I want more kids and my past pregnancy wasn't the greatest. I most likely won't be able to work full-time for a while and I want my husband to be able to help the family. That isn't too much to ask.
7) Regardless of how much money he makes I want him to have a understanding of money and be fiscally responsible
He has to have an understanding of what his worth is in assets and trying to raise his worth. If he knows what disposible income is and what net worth is, he won't be out here trying to buy expensive car and clothes. He wouldn't spend his pay check on new rims, candy paint or a wood-grained dashboard. I need him to know his credit score, know what an IRA is and a 401K. And if he doesn't know, that's cool I don't know everything, but I need him to already have a willingness to learn more about it with me.
8)Has to be masculine
Now this is one of those ambigous traits we women tend to say. I like traditional things. He opens doors, let me order first, has an understanding of the workings of a car. He has to have a presence.I want to feel protected and safe around him. I want him to have good conflict resolution skills (rarely gets into fights) and able to stand up for me whenever necessary. He has to exuded confidence...its just intangible. He doesn't have to say much. I don't have to see his car, or know what he does for a living. He doesn't need to try to make me jealous and try to impress me with his major/degrees/acomplishments (be humble!). He just is. Just is. When he initially approaches me he isn't nervous. He knows what he wants to say and does what he wants to do with strength and security. For example, a few friends and I went out to get something to eat. My friend told us that one of her male friends was in town and invited him to join us. We all order, eat, and the check comes. In mid-conversation, he takes the check, puts he card in the check holder and kept talking. Now, we were all expecting to pay but he said the dinner was on him and didn't ask us for our numbers or anything in return. Him paying wasn't the masculine part, just the way he asserted himself with such smoothness was fantastic.
9) Fears God
Not in a "I go to church on Easter and pray when I want something" kind of Christian but a man after God's heart. We all stumble along the way but at the end of the day he has to make God a priority. I want him to show our children how to pray and the importance of God.
10) Be a role model
I determine this by asking myself, "would I want my son to be just like him." After addressing all of his good and bad traits I should be willing to say "yes"
11)Interested in his community
Our community, the Black community, won't get any better if we do't do anything about it. Especially our children. I would like for him to have a serious interest in bettering his community
12) Able to show emotions
I want him to be able to tell me how he feels. Be able to show happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, in the most intimate of moments with the understanding that I am there for him ready to support and listen to whatever he has to say. Now, I don't want him to be a water bag crying all over the place nor do I want him to be SO masculine that he feels he need to act a certain way around me. I want him to be comfortable around me and be able to express to me what I need to do in order to make that comfortable atmosphere for him.
13) Love his job
If you are unhappy with something you have to do everyday that is going to end up spilling over into the home. If he doesn't "love" his job, he should to have a plan that gets him out of that job and into something he loves.
14) Has hobbies/other activites
I think it is important to have something that allows you to escape from everyday life. Whether it be, fixing cars, fishing, gardening, shooting pool,or being an ACTIVE member of an organization. Whatever it is that doesn't have to include me or the family can help in maintaining his identity and allow for him to just get away. He just needs to make sure family and God are priorities over this hobby.
15) Has friends
I have seen what happens when the woman has friends and an outgoing personailty and the guy seems to weigh her down. I have also seen it vice-versa. The woman has made her man her life and doesn't know what to do without him. I want to know his friends and meet his friends, as he would do the same with me, but I want him to have his "guys night out" and be able to have fun with his friends.
16) Makes me laugh
Pretty straight forward. I'm sarcastic and like to clown, he has to be funny too.
17) Doesn't abuse any drugs
Doesn't smoke ANYTHING or shoot up ANYTHING. Drinking socially is cool but he can't be a habitual drunk.
18) Interested in an over all healthy lifestyle
Eating right, exercising etc. I have started my health lifestly after I had my son and have lost 20 pounds and plan to keep going for the rest of my life. I want us both to live long and healthy lives for our children, grandchildren and their children
19) Intersted in travel and other cultures
I want to travel more and I would love to live and learn with my mate
20)Eager to better himself
He should be able to ask "why" to his emotions and actions as well those of the world. But not just for the sake of asking but as a productive measure or means to an end. He should see life as an endless journey. I would love for both of us to take that journey and discover more of ourselves and each other
This is all I can think of for now, but this just might sum it all up. Now as I look for these thing in future "daters" I also find it important to discover what makes me or what could make me a great mate. Another thing us women do is point alot of is fingers at others without pointing them at ourselves. That list will come soon :-)
1) He has to love kids
This is a given. I have a son and I want more children
2)Have to be a proactive parent
Whoever if marry (if i get married)will have to be a father. A ready-made father at that. I don't want to be the only parent in charge of punishments or praise. He needs to be ready to fulfill a role
3) Willing to adopt at least one child
There are so many un-adopted black children in America and people are willing to travel half-way around to world to get other children. Black boys are the least adopted and many travel through the foster system their whole lives feeling unwanted. And we wonder why our Black men are more likely to end up in prison rather than college.
4) Not have any kids
Yes that sound VERY contradictory since I have a child, but it is more of a preference than a necessity. He won't have to worry about my son's father but most likely his child won't be in his home. The child will most likely be staying with the mother or a relative. I would rather not have to deal with baby-mama drama. But again its a preference.
5)Over 6'2''
This may sound superficial but I'm tall and I have dated guys shorter than me and it makes me uncomfortable. I don't fell feminine. People say I have to just suck it up because I'm tall and the average man is shorter than me, but all of that is relative. Whether you are 5'6 woman or a 6'6 woman at the end of the day if he is shorter than you he is SHORT to YOU. It just feels weird to me and I don't like it.
6) Can make a significant financial contribution to the houseold
I got in a conversation with a group of guys about this and they made me out to be a golddigger. I don't see how that can be. Statistics show that as a black woman wating a relationship with a black man, I will most likely have the most education, the best job and make the most money. I'm ok with making the most money, but don't want to support him. And I don't mean support in a "good job honey, i'm here to support you" kind of way. I mean I don't want to support in a "honey I just paid the rent/morgage, electric bill, car note, insurance, phone bill, and cable. Could you please...maybe put some gas in the car...possibly...please." I'm not having it. MOST of the woman in my family are supporting their men. And when I say most I mean like I can think of 2 yes TWO women who don't provide the main support. My mother, grandmother, aunts, uncle's girlfriends/wives/fiances, all are the finaicial backbone for the household. When my mother was hurt on the job and had to recover there was little help from her husband. Lights were turned off, bills weren't paid and my mother couldn't recover completely with assurance. She had to go back to work early in order for everything to go back to normal. I don't want that. I want more kids and my past pregnancy wasn't the greatest. I most likely won't be able to work full-time for a while and I want my husband to be able to help the family. That isn't too much to ask.
7) Regardless of how much money he makes I want him to have a understanding of money and be fiscally responsible
He has to have an understanding of what his worth is in assets and trying to raise his worth. If he knows what disposible income is and what net worth is, he won't be out here trying to buy expensive car and clothes. He wouldn't spend his pay check on new rims, candy paint or a wood-grained dashboard. I need him to know his credit score, know what an IRA is and a 401K. And if he doesn't know, that's cool I don't know everything, but I need him to already have a willingness to learn more about it with me.
8)Has to be masculine
Now this is one of those ambigous traits we women tend to say. I like traditional things. He opens doors, let me order first, has an understanding of the workings of a car. He has to have a presence.I want to feel protected and safe around him. I want him to have good conflict resolution skills (rarely gets into fights) and able to stand up for me whenever necessary. He has to exuded confidence...its just intangible. He doesn't have to say much. I don't have to see his car, or know what he does for a living. He doesn't need to try to make me jealous and try to impress me with his major/degrees/acomplishments (be humble!). He just is. Just is. When he initially approaches me he isn't nervous. He knows what he wants to say and does what he wants to do with strength and security. For example, a few friends and I went out to get something to eat. My friend told us that one of her male friends was in town and invited him to join us. We all order, eat, and the check comes. In mid-conversation, he takes the check, puts he card in the check holder and kept talking. Now, we were all expecting to pay but he said the dinner was on him and didn't ask us for our numbers or anything in return. Him paying wasn't the masculine part, just the way he asserted himself with such smoothness was fantastic.
9) Fears God
Not in a "I go to church on Easter and pray when I want something" kind of Christian but a man after God's heart. We all stumble along the way but at the end of the day he has to make God a priority. I want him to show our children how to pray and the importance of God.
10) Be a role model
I determine this by asking myself, "would I want my son to be just like him." After addressing all of his good and bad traits I should be willing to say "yes"
11)Interested in his community
Our community, the Black community, won't get any better if we do't do anything about it. Especially our children. I would like for him to have a serious interest in bettering his community
12) Able to show emotions
I want him to be able to tell me how he feels. Be able to show happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, in the most intimate of moments with the understanding that I am there for him ready to support and listen to whatever he has to say. Now, I don't want him to be a water bag crying all over the place nor do I want him to be SO masculine that he feels he need to act a certain way around me. I want him to be comfortable around me and be able to express to me what I need to do in order to make that comfortable atmosphere for him.
13) Love his job
If you are unhappy with something you have to do everyday that is going to end up spilling over into the home. If he doesn't "love" his job, he should to have a plan that gets him out of that job and into something he loves.
14) Has hobbies/other activites
I think it is important to have something that allows you to escape from everyday life. Whether it be, fixing cars, fishing, gardening, shooting pool,or being an ACTIVE member of an organization. Whatever it is that doesn't have to include me or the family can help in maintaining his identity and allow for him to just get away. He just needs to make sure family and God are priorities over this hobby.
15) Has friends
I have seen what happens when the woman has friends and an outgoing personailty and the guy seems to weigh her down. I have also seen it vice-versa. The woman has made her man her life and doesn't know what to do without him. I want to know his friends and meet his friends, as he would do the same with me, but I want him to have his "guys night out" and be able to have fun with his friends.
16) Makes me laugh
Pretty straight forward. I'm sarcastic and like to clown, he has to be funny too.
17) Doesn't abuse any drugs
Doesn't smoke ANYTHING or shoot up ANYTHING. Drinking socially is cool but he can't be a habitual drunk.
18) Interested in an over all healthy lifestyle
Eating right, exercising etc. I have started my health lifestly after I had my son and have lost 20 pounds and plan to keep going for the rest of my life. I want us both to live long and healthy lives for our children, grandchildren and their children
19) Intersted in travel and other cultures
I want to travel more and I would love to live and learn with my mate
20)Eager to better himself
He should be able to ask "why" to his emotions and actions as well those of the world. But not just for the sake of asking but as a productive measure or means to an end. He should see life as an endless journey. I would love for both of us to take that journey and discover more of ourselves and each other
This is all I can think of for now, but this just might sum it all up. Now as I look for these thing in future "daters" I also find it important to discover what makes me or what could make me a great mate. Another thing us women do is point alot of is fingers at others without pointing them at ourselves. That list will come soon :-)
My View of the Boondocks
The Chronicles of Crum
I am currently taking a animation history course. As an assignment we had to choose an iconic character to write about. I choose my hero..Huey Freeman :-)
For those reading this essay who have yet to see the show, it may appear as if The Boondocks is a serious depiction of Black life with a political agenda announced on the proverbial soap box constructed with a psychological and socio-economical edge used to inform its viewers of the cons of living in America as a Black person as opposed to a late-night cartoon simply created to entertain pubescent insomniacs via caustic banter. Well, it may contain all of those elements, but what seems to make it a little more palatable for the average American is the comedy used throughout the series. Aaron McGruder, the creator of the animation featured on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim based on his award-winning comic strip by the same name, is an admitted satirist who uses the irony of characters’ environment against their personalities, sarcasm referencing current events, pokes fun at American media and entertainment culture, and covertly and overtly ridicules intra-racism, socio-economical indifference, and the lack of historical knowledge and current awareness in today’s youth.
“Excuse me everyone I have a brief announcement to make. Jesus was Black, Ronald Regan was the devil and the government is lying about 9/11. Thank you for your time and good night.” This scene from “The Garden Party” is emblematic of Huey Freeman’s frequent public declarations informing the masses of the latest political scheme or societal affliction. He is the 10-year-old star of The Boondocks and is the driving force in exposing and denouncing a culture he sees as ruled by a White supremacist power structure that misrepresents Christmas and Christ Himself ("A Huey Freeman Christmas", "The Passion of the Ruckus"), enforces capitalism and condones child labor (“The Itis”, "The Block is Hot"), falsely criminalizes Black males ("A Date With The Health Inspector"), and brings to light an unlawful leniency afforded to the wealthy and law enforcement ("Let's Nab Oprah", "A Date With The Health Inspector").
Huey Freeman is an intelligent skilled martial artist who lives among an array of personalities. Within his home there is his eight-year-old opportunistic brother Riley and their single culturally-assimilated Granddad, Robert Jebediah Freeman, who all live in the majority Caucasian suburbs. He has befriended and at times is annoyed by his mixed-race naive neighbor, Jasmine Dubois, of his same age, who doesn’t quite understand Huey’s purpose nor is approving of his angry demeanor (“The Block is Hot”). Tom Dubois, whose multi-racial marriage is occasionally under scrutiny (“The Trial of R. Kelly”), is the assistant district attorney, the father of Jasmine and only other Black person known to live in Woodcrest. Uncle Ruckus is an anti-black ornery middle-aged black man who is constantly in Woodcrest. But the blue collar jobs he performs throughout the series - such as working as a Wuncler estate security guard in “The Garden Party” or a hospital janitor in “Gangstalicious” - suggests he isn’t fiscally capable of maintaining a residence in the upper class neighborhood. Ed Wuncler is a right-winged conservative businessman who appears to represent the small percentage of Americans that own 84% of the nation’s wealth (Domhoff 2006). His family owns the local bank and acquired many other properties since his family founded Woodcrest over 100 years ago (“The Garden Party”). Neither a Mrs. Wuncler nor other children are ever shown, though he has a grandson, Ed Wuncler III (or Ed), who is suppose to uphold the Wuncler name by being the next U.S. President (“The Garden Party”). But Ed is more of an unsophisticated elitist and less of a savvy entrepreneur. Ed is an Iraqi war veteran who robs his father’s bank and convenient stores for fun without repercussions, treats his arsenal as a toy box, and is easily amused when he sends smiley-faced text messages to females.
He is usually seen with a large “W” chain around his neck to symbolize “Wuncler” and the middle initial of our current U.S. President (The Boondocks special features). His friends include 8-year-old Riley Freeman and Gin Rummy another Iraqi war veteran. Rummy appears to be more intelligent than Ed but just as impulsive and psychotic.
Huey’s characteristics and actions parallel some historical figures and events which create some interesting interactions and ironies. He is possibly tailored after a mixture of historical Black activists: Marcus M. Garvey, Huey P. Newton, and Malcolm X.
Garvey was the founder of the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1917 - an organization created to promote unity, love, pride among and protection for the Black race regardless of nationality - which established more than 700 branches in 38 U.S. states and 200 branches in the West Indies and Central and South America (Watson 2000). A year later Garvey produced the Negro World, a weekly newspaper that reached a circulation of more that 50,000 (Watson 2000).
Born Malcolm Little in 1925, Malcolm X was raised on the teachings of Marcus Garvey and converted to the Nation of Islam, who maintained Garvey’s beliefs, taught strict moral purity and the superiority of the black race. Malcolm X conducted an assiduous accusative campaign against America's racial hypocrisy then altered his ethnic principles. Maintaining the belief the racism is embedded in the cultural fabric of America; Malcolm rejected his former racial generalities, advocated humanity, and agreed that some whites wanted to unravel America’s racist mentality (Jones). As Malcolm X had predicted in his autobiography, he would be immortalized after his death, thus profoundly influencing the development various organizations including the Black Panther Party (Jones).
Huey P. Newton, born 1942, was a student activist at Merritt Junior College in the early 1960s then he and Bobby Seale co-founded the Black Panther Party (Huey P. Newton). Newton was at the forefront of this African-American progressive political organization that fought for social justice, demanded equal education, struggled for better housing and employment for poor Blacks, and armed themselves in order defend themselves against police brutality in the 1960’s (Dunlap 2006).
Huey Freeman is the founder of twenty-three radical leftist organizations that are very similar in nature to that of those who he succeeds. He lists his affiliations in the episode entitled "The Real" where the family is being interviewed for a reality show of which Riley applied: “Africans fighting racism and oppression or AFRO…Black revolutionary organization or BRO…Black revolutionary underground heroes or BRUH.” These organizations make reference to the chapters established by the UNIA, Black Panthers, and the Nation of Islam. In the “The Block is Hot” Huey sits on a soap box placed on the street curb passing out newspapers and enlightening passers of esoteric information including how the government wants citizens dead by 62 so they can’t collect their social security benefits. This action is reminiscent of Garvey’s newspaper distribution and Malcolm X’s declarations made in New York street meetings.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s persona could possibly be included in Huey’s characteristics because of Huey’s protest march to free Jasmine from the effects of her naïve decision of involving herself in a corrupt business deal – a protest very similar to the “Free Huey” campaign that commenced after Newton was sent to prison in 1967 for murder after a fatal confrontation with Oakland police officer (Huey P. Newton). Or because of Huey’s admiration for King seen in an episode dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. (“Return of the King”). Garvey, Newton nor Malcolm may not be known for massive marches with a means to a political end, but Huey’s “by any means necessary” attitude makes him appears more militant that the soft-spoken congenial King who could be seen as the polar opposite of the Black Panthers. Their influcened was noted when former FBI chief, J. Edgar Hoover, deemed the Black Panthers "the greatest threat to the internal security of the United States" (What Was the Black Panther Party?).
What’s ironic is that Huey attends J. Edgar Hoover Elementary (“A Huey Freeman Christmas”), named after a man who would be advocating Huey’s destruction. J. Edgar Hoover, one of the most powerful racists to hold a U.S. government position in the 20th Century and director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1924 to 1972 was notorious for his targeting Black civil rights leaders, elected officials, newspaper publishers, and artists. He was involved with the FBI program entitled ``Operation Fruehmenschen'' (German for ``primitive'' or ``early man'') which allowed for routine investigation without probable cause of prominent elected and appointed black officials throughout the United States with the belief that they were intellectually and socially incompetent (Spannaus 2000). This FBI program eventually became COINTELPRO (counter-intelligence program) which aided Hoover's infamous campaign to ``neutralize'' Dr. Martin Luther King, Marcus Garvey and the Black Panther Party. Examples of the enforcement of COINTELPRO consisted of FBI wiretapping telephones, use their media contacts to discredit targets, blackmail, and stimulate violence and assassinations. In 1968, the FBI Headquarters included ``Black Nationalist--Hate Groups,'' within their targets. Their use of “imaginative'' techniques resulted in the assassination of Dr. King, Garvey’s escape to England and the dissolution of the Black Panthers (Spannaus 2000).
Knowledgeable of governmental conspiracies, Huey decided to rectify past government wrongs. Huey is a friend and fan of Shabazz K. Milton Berle and conjures a plan to free him from execution (“The Passion of Ruckus”). Huey informs the audience that Shabazz was an intern for the Black Panthers in the early 1970’s. While in his office, a deputy was shot outside. Soon after, the police barged into his office building brutalizing him and placing him under arrest for murder. It was discovered that Eli Gorbinski did the shooting after compiling the mountain of evidence against him: An on-site stenographer’s transcription signed and dated by Gorbinski, a video tape of the shooting, Gorbinski’s finger prints, receipt of sale, and a signed warranty card still attached to the weapon. The jury deliberated for twenty-minutes and sentenced Shabazz to death.
The use of the name Shabazz implies a couple of things. During his dedication to the Nation of Islam, Malcom X and other Black Muslim were taught that they were descendants of the "original black nation of Asia, the Tribe of Shabazz," and that they had lost their original culture in slavery (Turner 1997). According to these ideas, the slave masters were the descendants of blonde haired blue-eyed mutant devils who had been developed by a mad black scientist named Yacub. These mutant devils are believed to be the cause of the loss of their "true" names, history, religion and ethnicity, thus finding it necessary to destroy the white race's invincibility that made black inferiority and self-hatred inevitable (Turner 1997). Also after Malcolm denounced his allegiance to the Nation of Islam, he changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. This episode doesn’t inform the audience of Shabazz Berle’s religious affiliation or his stance on the Caucasian race, but since Shabazz is used as a first name and not a last name may discount his religious affiliation. Huey’s belief system isn’t expressly stated either, but the possibility that Shabazz is a member of the Nation of Islam, the fact that Huey and he are friends, Huey’s reference to Elijah Muhammad and his teachings is the episode “The Itis”, added to Huey’s admiration of Malcolm X expressed by the large poster on his bedroom wall suggests that he is, at the very least, familiar with Black Muslim religion.
Shabazz’s fictitious story is very similar to the accusations toward former Black Panther member Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin found guilty of murdering a Fulton County sheriff's deputy and wounding another in March 2000 (Ex-Black Panther convicted of murder 2002). Al-Amin was confronted by two Fulton County deputies attempting to serve a warrant because of Al-Amin's failure to appear in court. Then the event escaladed into a shooting battle which ended with a dead officer, an injured deputy, and a wounded attacker. Although Al-Amin was fingered as the attacker but wasn’t injured he was still arraigned and held responsible. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Al-Amin and plan to present evidence that is believed to be tampered with. Al-Amin's lawyers argued their client’s innocence and, as with Shabazz, another man was known for committing the murder. Nevertheless his fate was sealed due to the surviving officer identifying Al-Amin as the assailant and an alleged governmental conspiracy believed by his brother Ed Brown. Brown says the government’s fixation on his brother stems from an established pattern that has lasted over three decades beginning with his civil rights efforts and now his Muslim belief system, "What explanation do they have for watching him? …They were so obsessed." This government obsession was rendered in “The Real” where COINTELPRO actions were represented by a secret government agent monitoring Huey, possibly due to his affiliations with radical Black organizations.
The similarity in each activist and embodied in Huey is their separatist philosophy. Huey could be labeled a Black Nationalist; A person with the set of beliefs or political theories that want African-Americans to maintain social, economic, and political institutions separate and distinct from those of whites in order to ward off the possibility of assimilation, an action that can deny the minority of their culture due to a merger with the majority culture (The Black Nationalist Forums). This separatist mentality could prevent any negative incidents resulting from white racism and allows for the maintenance of pro-Black ideals. Black Nationalist thought is a form of cultural nationalism defined as a group having the sense that they represent a "nation" or a unified "nation that is within a nation" (Shockley 2004). Nationalists believe that their particular group should behave in ways that indicate the following: (1) group solidarity and group betterment, and (2) an unspoken acknowledgement among group members that they are in competition with other groups (Shockley 2004). As the nation diversifies, incoming groups are quickly realizing that they can benefit from group nationalism. These nations fight for resources and power by lobbying Congress, building institutions in their communities, and by teaching their children how to compete with other groups for resources and power (Shockley 2004). Like Garvey's followers in the 1920s, Black Muslims labeled whites as "blue-eyed devils," opposed integration, and called for black pride, independent black institutions, and, ultimately, a separate black nation (Jones).
Huey’s opposition towards fraternizing with the Wuncler’s and their White guests suggests that Huey could be a follower of Garvey. In “The Garden Party”, Wuncler invites the Freeman’s to a gathering at his home. Granddad happily accepts the invitation claiming that Woodcrest is where the “new White man” lives, but Huey isn’t convinced, “Granddad I don’t sip tea with the enemy. You can force me to go but you can not force me to be someone I’m not”. Huey doesn’t clearly state at anytime during the season what group of people are the enemy or what alternate personality he believes he is expected of him. Is the enemy White people, the rich, rich white people or capitalists? One could argue that most of the wealthy in America are Whites thus the average capitalist is of the same race. But is Huey’s anger against White people across the board? He doesn’t seem to have a problem with his teacher in “A Huey Freeman Christman” episode. He does state his dislike for Gin Rummy and Ed more so for their immaturity than their color. Huey does converse with an Caucasian attendee at the Wuncler festivity but his demeanor supports him feeling forced rather than willing as he tells the gentlemen that he couldn’t see Passion of the Christ due to Jesus being played by a White actor.
McGruder and his creative staff have used their skills to innovatively over-throw artistic norms and character dimensions. The show is ground-breaking in that it is drawn in a detailed Japanese anime design featuring Black characters. With the limiting style of anime, Lesean Thomas the character supervisor of the animated series, said that it was challenging to create but enjoyed the authenticity of the characters, “This is the first time I have been able to design characters that look like Black folks. You don’t get shows like this ever” (The Boondocks special features). The art is ambitious in that all of the characters - stars, co-stars, and extras - are all unique in their design. Similar to Winsor McCay, McGruder was able to successfully maintain the original look of his comic book characters after translating them into animation.
For example, Huey continues to look like a caricature of McGruder and maintains his contemplative disposition. Similar to the short-lived The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest cartoons where the characters remained in the same clothing, McGruder and his artistic team departed from traditional animation in that the star characters’ clothing changes throughout the episode and series. Another similarity to John Quest is the use of Doug Wildey’s signature comic book artistic style known for his bold use of shadow and realistic people. The innovations continue with Huey addressing the audience. Huey as the narrator understands that he has a responsibility to inform those in his world and the viewing audience. He is the only character who consistently breaks the fourth dimensional wall by communicating with the audience, similar to Bill Cosby in the Fat Albert cartoon series. Although they are two different types of programming the purpose behind conversing with the viewing audience is similar in that they both want to clearly identify and effectively communicate a point to the audience.
The Boondocks writing staff is able to bring various malignant issues festering within the Black community and the American society as a whole to the fore-front with the help of the trials, tribulations and knowledge of Huey: The effects of the news on society (e.g. When her dad didn’t come home from work, Huey had to support Jasmine when she feared Algerian terrorist had captured her father to decapitate him due to the threat level being raised to orange); intra-racism (e.g. When Huey was ridiculed for moving from the inner city to an upper-class neighborhood); criminalization of Black males (e.g. when Tom was accused of being the X-box killer because he fit the vague “black male” description and Huey had to find the real murderer). But there appears to be a constant race theme consisting of two different threads throughout Huey’s adventures: Blacks in relation to Blacks and Blacks in relation to Whites. One of Huey’s most interesting exposition uncovers the cankerous intra-racial debate on the use of the derogatory term “nigga”. The history of the word nigger has a lexical history of mispronunciations due to it being passed through five different dialects: First is the Latin word niger, meaning black; Second, it became negro in Spanish and Portuguese with the same Latin definition; Later, it became the noun Negro meaning black person in English; In Early Modern French niger became negre and, transformed into negress meaning Black woman; Then finally nigger, believed to be the phonetic spelling of the white Southern mispronunciation of Negro (Middleton and Pilgrim 2001). By the advent of minstrelsy in the 1800s, nigger was known as a degenerative nickname and a sign of white racism. Interestingly, the word nigger carries a similar amount hatred and disgust as disparaging terms targeting other ethnicities like kike, spic, wetback chink, and dago but it can be heard today being used by African-Americans… Herein lays the debate. Some say the word still carries the stench of its negative history and displays Blacks’ internalization of negativity about themselves, while others argue that Blacks coined and redefined its variants (e.g. niggah, nigga, or niggaz) thus not allowing themselves to be prisoners of the past or suffer from the words created to insult the very people who use it (Middleton and Pilgrim 2001). Others characters use the terms for different reasons. Uncle Ruckus uses the terms solely to degrade other Black people and appears to be symbolizing some Blacks’ internalized self-hatred. Gin Rummy says it’s a general term for ignorant people. Granddad boasts about his participation in the civil rights movement, or lack thereof, and appears to be divided on its use by enforcing its restricted use and then saying it himself. Riley, appears to be of a different train of thought saying “nigga” to whom ever he deems worthy, black or white. But Huey utilizes it as a racial class ranking similar to the way some whites create a socio-economical subdivision with expressions like rednecks, honkeys, white trash, etc. In “Granddad’s Fight”, Huey explains to the audience the definition of a “nigga moment”. An action Huey says occurs when a disrespectful situation presents itself and the otherwise logical Black male responds in an illogical, unpredictable and self-destructive manner that is ranked third in the top reasons for death among Blacks after F.E.M.A. and pork chops. We learn that there is a difference between private “nigga moments” which shames the individuals involved and public “nigga moments” shames the entire race. Granddad accidentally killed the man who helped create the ignorant public moment between the two of them, thus regaining the respect he believed was taken from him. Huey attempted to talk his grandfather out of involving himself in the immature situation without victory.
So how can Huey be victorious in delivering his message? A stereotypical satirist’s job description could include delivering an adult message by cynical means and therefore characterized as pessimistic, but if the satirist rips open old wound so that they may be reexamined should he (McGruder) be labeled as militant or angry? What is interesting is that Huey may be speaking the truth but his overt tactics to inform the Black public is unsuccessful. Why is this? Does this mean that the majority of Black people live comfortably in a blissful ignorance? Huey once said, “My vision would turn your world up side down tear sunder your allusions and send the sanctuary of your own ignorance crashing down around you. Now ask yourself are you really ready to see that vision?”
Huey battles both Black and White ignorance in hopes that the revolution will begin and the white supremacist power structure would be debunked. During an edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, conservative host Bill O'Reilly claimed that The New York Times and "many far-left thinkers believe the white power structure that controls America is bad, so a drastic change is needed…” (May 16). He said on national television “the white power structure that controls America”. This confirmation that a racist structure exists makes McGruder’s lead character more iconic. Whether you agree with Black Nationalist thought or not, if a group of people are being subjugated shouldn’t someone say something? Shouldn’t someone fight against mis-education, stand up and tell the truth? Didn’t Jesus speak up for the poor and Moses for the enslaved Hebrews? Aren’t Americans taught to admire Paul Revere? Just as the American Revolution began due to the sting of British rule, Huey is calling for a Black revolution fueled by Afrocentric thought. Contrarily, Huey doesn’t advocate a gun battle but a battle of minds and the discussion of history and its relevance in today’s society. Poet and musician Gil Scott Heron told us that “the revolution will not be televised”, ironically McGruder’s revolution is.
I am currently taking a animation history course. As an assignment we had to choose an iconic character to write about. I choose my hero..Huey Freeman :-)
For those reading this essay who have yet to see the show, it may appear as if The Boondocks is a serious depiction of Black life with a political agenda announced on the proverbial soap box constructed with a psychological and socio-economical edge used to inform its viewers of the cons of living in America as a Black person as opposed to a late-night cartoon simply created to entertain pubescent insomniacs via caustic banter. Well, it may contain all of those elements, but what seems to make it a little more palatable for the average American is the comedy used throughout the series. Aaron McGruder, the creator of the animation featured on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim based on his award-winning comic strip by the same name, is an admitted satirist who uses the irony of characters’ environment against their personalities, sarcasm referencing current events, pokes fun at American media and entertainment culture, and covertly and overtly ridicules intra-racism, socio-economical indifference, and the lack of historical knowledge and current awareness in today’s youth.
“Excuse me everyone I have a brief announcement to make. Jesus was Black, Ronald Regan was the devil and the government is lying about 9/11. Thank you for your time and good night.” This scene from “The Garden Party” is emblematic of Huey Freeman’s frequent public declarations informing the masses of the latest political scheme or societal affliction. He is the 10-year-old star of The Boondocks and is the driving force in exposing and denouncing a culture he sees as ruled by a White supremacist power structure that misrepresents Christmas and Christ Himself ("A Huey Freeman Christmas", "The Passion of the Ruckus"), enforces capitalism and condones child labor (“The Itis”, "The Block is Hot"), falsely criminalizes Black males ("A Date With The Health Inspector"), and brings to light an unlawful leniency afforded to the wealthy and law enforcement ("Let's Nab Oprah", "A Date With The Health Inspector").
Huey Freeman is an intelligent skilled martial artist who lives among an array of personalities. Within his home there is his eight-year-old opportunistic brother Riley and their single culturally-assimilated Granddad, Robert Jebediah Freeman, who all live in the majority Caucasian suburbs. He has befriended and at times is annoyed by his mixed-race naive neighbor, Jasmine Dubois, of his same age, who doesn’t quite understand Huey’s purpose nor is approving of his angry demeanor (“The Block is Hot”). Tom Dubois, whose multi-racial marriage is occasionally under scrutiny (“The Trial of R. Kelly”), is the assistant district attorney, the father of Jasmine and only other Black person known to live in Woodcrest. Uncle Ruckus is an anti-black ornery middle-aged black man who is constantly in Woodcrest. But the blue collar jobs he performs throughout the series - such as working as a Wuncler estate security guard in “The Garden Party” or a hospital janitor in “Gangstalicious” - suggests he isn’t fiscally capable of maintaining a residence in the upper class neighborhood. Ed Wuncler is a right-winged conservative businessman who appears to represent the small percentage of Americans that own 84% of the nation’s wealth (Domhoff 2006). His family owns the local bank and acquired many other properties since his family founded Woodcrest over 100 years ago (“The Garden Party”). Neither a Mrs. Wuncler nor other children are ever shown, though he has a grandson, Ed Wuncler III (or Ed), who is suppose to uphold the Wuncler name by being the next U.S. President (“The Garden Party”). But Ed is more of an unsophisticated elitist and less of a savvy entrepreneur. Ed is an Iraqi war veteran who robs his father’s bank and convenient stores for fun without repercussions, treats his arsenal as a toy box, and is easily amused when he sends smiley-faced text messages to females.
He is usually seen with a large “W” chain around his neck to symbolize “Wuncler” and the middle initial of our current U.S. President (The Boondocks special features). His friends include 8-year-old Riley Freeman and Gin Rummy another Iraqi war veteran. Rummy appears to be more intelligent than Ed but just as impulsive and psychotic.
Huey’s characteristics and actions parallel some historical figures and events which create some interesting interactions and ironies. He is possibly tailored after a mixture of historical Black activists: Marcus M. Garvey, Huey P. Newton, and Malcolm X.
Garvey was the founder of the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1917 - an organization created to promote unity, love, pride among and protection for the Black race regardless of nationality - which established more than 700 branches in 38 U.S. states and 200 branches in the West Indies and Central and South America (Watson 2000). A year later Garvey produced the Negro World, a weekly newspaper that reached a circulation of more that 50,000 (Watson 2000).
Born Malcolm Little in 1925, Malcolm X was raised on the teachings of Marcus Garvey and converted to the Nation of Islam, who maintained Garvey’s beliefs, taught strict moral purity and the superiority of the black race. Malcolm X conducted an assiduous accusative campaign against America's racial hypocrisy then altered his ethnic principles. Maintaining the belief the racism is embedded in the cultural fabric of America; Malcolm rejected his former racial generalities, advocated humanity, and agreed that some whites wanted to unravel America’s racist mentality (Jones). As Malcolm X had predicted in his autobiography, he would be immortalized after his death, thus profoundly influencing the development various organizations including the Black Panther Party (Jones).
Huey P. Newton, born 1942, was a student activist at Merritt Junior College in the early 1960s then he and Bobby Seale co-founded the Black Panther Party (Huey P. Newton). Newton was at the forefront of this African-American progressive political organization that fought for social justice, demanded equal education, struggled for better housing and employment for poor Blacks, and armed themselves in order defend themselves against police brutality in the 1960’s (Dunlap 2006).
Huey Freeman is the founder of twenty-three radical leftist organizations that are very similar in nature to that of those who he succeeds. He lists his affiliations in the episode entitled "The Real" where the family is being interviewed for a reality show of which Riley applied: “Africans fighting racism and oppression or AFRO…Black revolutionary organization or BRO…Black revolutionary underground heroes or BRUH.” These organizations make reference to the chapters established by the UNIA, Black Panthers, and the Nation of Islam. In the “The Block is Hot” Huey sits on a soap box placed on the street curb passing out newspapers and enlightening passers of esoteric information including how the government wants citizens dead by 62 so they can’t collect their social security benefits. This action is reminiscent of Garvey’s newspaper distribution and Malcolm X’s declarations made in New York street meetings.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s persona could possibly be included in Huey’s characteristics because of Huey’s protest march to free Jasmine from the effects of her naïve decision of involving herself in a corrupt business deal – a protest very similar to the “Free Huey” campaign that commenced after Newton was sent to prison in 1967 for murder after a fatal confrontation with Oakland police officer (Huey P. Newton). Or because of Huey’s admiration for King seen in an episode dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. (“Return of the King”). Garvey, Newton nor Malcolm may not be known for massive marches with a means to a political end, but Huey’s “by any means necessary” attitude makes him appears more militant that the soft-spoken congenial King who could be seen as the polar opposite of the Black Panthers. Their influcened was noted when former FBI chief, J. Edgar Hoover, deemed the Black Panthers "the greatest threat to the internal security of the United States" (What Was the Black Panther Party?).
What’s ironic is that Huey attends J. Edgar Hoover Elementary (“A Huey Freeman Christmas”), named after a man who would be advocating Huey’s destruction. J. Edgar Hoover, one of the most powerful racists to hold a U.S. government position in the 20th Century and director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1924 to 1972 was notorious for his targeting Black civil rights leaders, elected officials, newspaper publishers, and artists. He was involved with the FBI program entitled ``Operation Fruehmenschen'' (German for ``primitive'' or ``early man'') which allowed for routine investigation without probable cause of prominent elected and appointed black officials throughout the United States with the belief that they were intellectually and socially incompetent (Spannaus 2000). This FBI program eventually became COINTELPRO (counter-intelligence program) which aided Hoover's infamous campaign to ``neutralize'' Dr. Martin Luther King, Marcus Garvey and the Black Panther Party. Examples of the enforcement of COINTELPRO consisted of FBI wiretapping telephones, use their media contacts to discredit targets, blackmail, and stimulate violence and assassinations. In 1968, the FBI Headquarters included ``Black Nationalist--Hate Groups,'' within their targets. Their use of “imaginative'' techniques resulted in the assassination of Dr. King, Garvey’s escape to England and the dissolution of the Black Panthers (Spannaus 2000).
Knowledgeable of governmental conspiracies, Huey decided to rectify past government wrongs. Huey is a friend and fan of Shabazz K. Milton Berle and conjures a plan to free him from execution (“The Passion of Ruckus”). Huey informs the audience that Shabazz was an intern for the Black Panthers in the early 1970’s. While in his office, a deputy was shot outside. Soon after, the police barged into his office building brutalizing him and placing him under arrest for murder. It was discovered that Eli Gorbinski did the shooting after compiling the mountain of evidence against him: An on-site stenographer’s transcription signed and dated by Gorbinski, a video tape of the shooting, Gorbinski’s finger prints, receipt of sale, and a signed warranty card still attached to the weapon. The jury deliberated for twenty-minutes and sentenced Shabazz to death.
The use of the name Shabazz implies a couple of things. During his dedication to the Nation of Islam, Malcom X and other Black Muslim were taught that they were descendants of the "original black nation of Asia, the Tribe of Shabazz," and that they had lost their original culture in slavery (Turner 1997). According to these ideas, the slave masters were the descendants of blonde haired blue-eyed mutant devils who had been developed by a mad black scientist named Yacub. These mutant devils are believed to be the cause of the loss of their "true" names, history, religion and ethnicity, thus finding it necessary to destroy the white race's invincibility that made black inferiority and self-hatred inevitable (Turner 1997). Also after Malcolm denounced his allegiance to the Nation of Islam, he changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. This episode doesn’t inform the audience of Shabazz Berle’s religious affiliation or his stance on the Caucasian race, but since Shabazz is used as a first name and not a last name may discount his religious affiliation. Huey’s belief system isn’t expressly stated either, but the possibility that Shabazz is a member of the Nation of Islam, the fact that Huey and he are friends, Huey’s reference to Elijah Muhammad and his teachings is the episode “The Itis”, added to Huey’s admiration of Malcolm X expressed by the large poster on his bedroom wall suggests that he is, at the very least, familiar with Black Muslim religion.
Shabazz’s fictitious story is very similar to the accusations toward former Black Panther member Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin found guilty of murdering a Fulton County sheriff's deputy and wounding another in March 2000 (Ex-Black Panther convicted of murder 2002). Al-Amin was confronted by two Fulton County deputies attempting to serve a warrant because of Al-Amin's failure to appear in court. Then the event escaladed into a shooting battle which ended with a dead officer, an injured deputy, and a wounded attacker. Although Al-Amin was fingered as the attacker but wasn’t injured he was still arraigned and held responsible. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Al-Amin and plan to present evidence that is believed to be tampered with. Al-Amin's lawyers argued their client’s innocence and, as with Shabazz, another man was known for committing the murder. Nevertheless his fate was sealed due to the surviving officer identifying Al-Amin as the assailant and an alleged governmental conspiracy believed by his brother Ed Brown. Brown says the government’s fixation on his brother stems from an established pattern that has lasted over three decades beginning with his civil rights efforts and now his Muslim belief system, "What explanation do they have for watching him? …They were so obsessed." This government obsession was rendered in “The Real” where COINTELPRO actions were represented by a secret government agent monitoring Huey, possibly due to his affiliations with radical Black organizations.
The similarity in each activist and embodied in Huey is their separatist philosophy. Huey could be labeled a Black Nationalist; A person with the set of beliefs or political theories that want African-Americans to maintain social, economic, and political institutions separate and distinct from those of whites in order to ward off the possibility of assimilation, an action that can deny the minority of their culture due to a merger with the majority culture (The Black Nationalist Forums). This separatist mentality could prevent any negative incidents resulting from white racism and allows for the maintenance of pro-Black ideals. Black Nationalist thought is a form of cultural nationalism defined as a group having the sense that they represent a "nation" or a unified "nation that is within a nation" (Shockley 2004). Nationalists believe that their particular group should behave in ways that indicate the following: (1) group solidarity and group betterment, and (2) an unspoken acknowledgement among group members that they are in competition with other groups (Shockley 2004). As the nation diversifies, incoming groups are quickly realizing that they can benefit from group nationalism. These nations fight for resources and power by lobbying Congress, building institutions in their communities, and by teaching their children how to compete with other groups for resources and power (Shockley 2004). Like Garvey's followers in the 1920s, Black Muslims labeled whites as "blue-eyed devils," opposed integration, and called for black pride, independent black institutions, and, ultimately, a separate black nation (Jones).
Huey’s opposition towards fraternizing with the Wuncler’s and their White guests suggests that Huey could be a follower of Garvey. In “The Garden Party”, Wuncler invites the Freeman’s to a gathering at his home. Granddad happily accepts the invitation claiming that Woodcrest is where the “new White man” lives, but Huey isn’t convinced, “Granddad I don’t sip tea with the enemy. You can force me to go but you can not force me to be someone I’m not”. Huey doesn’t clearly state at anytime during the season what group of people are the enemy or what alternate personality he believes he is expected of him. Is the enemy White people, the rich, rich white people or capitalists? One could argue that most of the wealthy in America are Whites thus the average capitalist is of the same race. But is Huey’s anger against White people across the board? He doesn’t seem to have a problem with his teacher in “A Huey Freeman Christman” episode. He does state his dislike for Gin Rummy and Ed more so for their immaturity than their color. Huey does converse with an Caucasian attendee at the Wuncler festivity but his demeanor supports him feeling forced rather than willing as he tells the gentlemen that he couldn’t see Passion of the Christ due to Jesus being played by a White actor.
McGruder and his creative staff have used their skills to innovatively over-throw artistic norms and character dimensions. The show is ground-breaking in that it is drawn in a detailed Japanese anime design featuring Black characters. With the limiting style of anime, Lesean Thomas the character supervisor of the animated series, said that it was challenging to create but enjoyed the authenticity of the characters, “This is the first time I have been able to design characters that look like Black folks. You don’t get shows like this ever” (The Boondocks special features). The art is ambitious in that all of the characters - stars, co-stars, and extras - are all unique in their design. Similar to Winsor McCay, McGruder was able to successfully maintain the original look of his comic book characters after translating them into animation.
For example, Huey continues to look like a caricature of McGruder and maintains his contemplative disposition. Similar to the short-lived The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest cartoons where the characters remained in the same clothing, McGruder and his artistic team departed from traditional animation in that the star characters’ clothing changes throughout the episode and series. Another similarity to John Quest is the use of Doug Wildey’s signature comic book artistic style known for his bold use of shadow and realistic people. The innovations continue with Huey addressing the audience. Huey as the narrator understands that he has a responsibility to inform those in his world and the viewing audience. He is the only character who consistently breaks the fourth dimensional wall by communicating with the audience, similar to Bill Cosby in the Fat Albert cartoon series. Although they are two different types of programming the purpose behind conversing with the viewing audience is similar in that they both want to clearly identify and effectively communicate a point to the audience.
The Boondocks writing staff is able to bring various malignant issues festering within the Black community and the American society as a whole to the fore-front with the help of the trials, tribulations and knowledge of Huey: The effects of the news on society (e.g. When her dad didn’t come home from work, Huey had to support Jasmine when she feared Algerian terrorist had captured her father to decapitate him due to the threat level being raised to orange); intra-racism (e.g. When Huey was ridiculed for moving from the inner city to an upper-class neighborhood); criminalization of Black males (e.g. when Tom was accused of being the X-box killer because he fit the vague “black male” description and Huey had to find the real murderer). But there appears to be a constant race theme consisting of two different threads throughout Huey’s adventures: Blacks in relation to Blacks and Blacks in relation to Whites. One of Huey’s most interesting exposition uncovers the cankerous intra-racial debate on the use of the derogatory term “nigga”. The history of the word nigger has a lexical history of mispronunciations due to it being passed through five different dialects: First is the Latin word niger, meaning black; Second, it became negro in Spanish and Portuguese with the same Latin definition; Later, it became the noun Negro meaning black person in English; In Early Modern French niger became negre and, transformed into negress meaning Black woman; Then finally nigger, believed to be the phonetic spelling of the white Southern mispronunciation of Negro (Middleton and Pilgrim 2001). By the advent of minstrelsy in the 1800s, nigger was known as a degenerative nickname and a sign of white racism. Interestingly, the word nigger carries a similar amount hatred and disgust as disparaging terms targeting other ethnicities like kike, spic, wetback chink, and dago but it can be heard today being used by African-Americans… Herein lays the debate. Some say the word still carries the stench of its negative history and displays Blacks’ internalization of negativity about themselves, while others argue that Blacks coined and redefined its variants (e.g. niggah, nigga, or niggaz) thus not allowing themselves to be prisoners of the past or suffer from the words created to insult the very people who use it (Middleton and Pilgrim 2001). Others characters use the terms for different reasons. Uncle Ruckus uses the terms solely to degrade other Black people and appears to be symbolizing some Blacks’ internalized self-hatred. Gin Rummy says it’s a general term for ignorant people. Granddad boasts about his participation in the civil rights movement, or lack thereof, and appears to be divided on its use by enforcing its restricted use and then saying it himself. Riley, appears to be of a different train of thought saying “nigga” to whom ever he deems worthy, black or white. But Huey utilizes it as a racial class ranking similar to the way some whites create a socio-economical subdivision with expressions like rednecks, honkeys, white trash, etc. In “Granddad’s Fight”, Huey explains to the audience the definition of a “nigga moment”. An action Huey says occurs when a disrespectful situation presents itself and the otherwise logical Black male responds in an illogical, unpredictable and self-destructive manner that is ranked third in the top reasons for death among Blacks after F.E.M.A. and pork chops. We learn that there is a difference between private “nigga moments” which shames the individuals involved and public “nigga moments” shames the entire race. Granddad accidentally killed the man who helped create the ignorant public moment between the two of them, thus regaining the respect he believed was taken from him. Huey attempted to talk his grandfather out of involving himself in the immature situation without victory.
So how can Huey be victorious in delivering his message? A stereotypical satirist’s job description could include delivering an adult message by cynical means and therefore characterized as pessimistic, but if the satirist rips open old wound so that they may be reexamined should he (McGruder) be labeled as militant or angry? What is interesting is that Huey may be speaking the truth but his overt tactics to inform the Black public is unsuccessful. Why is this? Does this mean that the majority of Black people live comfortably in a blissful ignorance? Huey once said, “My vision would turn your world up side down tear sunder your allusions and send the sanctuary of your own ignorance crashing down around you. Now ask yourself are you really ready to see that vision?”
Huey battles both Black and White ignorance in hopes that the revolution will begin and the white supremacist power structure would be debunked. During an edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, conservative host Bill O'Reilly claimed that The New York Times and "many far-left thinkers believe the white power structure that controls America is bad, so a drastic change is needed…” (May 16). He said on national television “the white power structure that controls America”. This confirmation that a racist structure exists makes McGruder’s lead character more iconic. Whether you agree with Black Nationalist thought or not, if a group of people are being subjugated shouldn’t someone say something? Shouldn’t someone fight against mis-education, stand up and tell the truth? Didn’t Jesus speak up for the poor and Moses for the enslaved Hebrews? Aren’t Americans taught to admire Paul Revere? Just as the American Revolution began due to the sting of British rule, Huey is calling for a Black revolution fueled by Afrocentric thought. Contrarily, Huey doesn’t advocate a gun battle but a battle of minds and the discussion of history and its relevance in today’s society. Poet and musician Gil Scott Heron told us that “the revolution will not be televised”, ironically McGruder’s revolution is.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Who Needs a Dad?!
For the past year plus I have done my best to create a good parental atmosphere for L******* without success. My last straw was going to be setting up counseling for my son's father and I but I'm done. This mission needs a joint effort and I won't pull the weight alone. I wash my hands of it. Here is the email I sent to him:
D**** I’ve tried. I’ve tried to prevent my biggest fear but I can’t. I didn’t want L******* to grow up feeling unwanted or low self-esteem because his father isn’t consistently there but I’ve realized I can’t. I can't sit and hope that you will "come around". The mediator/counselor was just another way I was trying to get this parental journey on the right track but I can’t do it alone. The way you spoke to me on the phone was the last straw. I’ve held my tongue in hopes of making this a better situation but it doesn’t work. You seem to be mad at something. Me for not killing L*******, yourself for not being the father you envisioned, or just life for not going your way. I have realized you are more of a poison than an anecdote and the way you are not making L******* a priority and the way you are treating me is no longer tolerable. But guess this was inevitable since this has always been "my thing" (in your words) .L******* deserves people who love him and he has that, a great and blessed mother and family. You and your family can’t provide that. If following money, studying for the bar, and fixing a headlight (and might I add my headlight that has been out for months and recently got fixed) continue to come before your son then your activity in his life isn’t worth fighting for. I sincerely, with all of my heart, implore you to follow your monetary dreams and make a family at a time you prefer. A child deserves all of both of their parents’ effort, dedication, and sacrificial love which is something you are incapable of doing. L******* will be happy and will have a great life, I speak it into existence in Jesus name. I love my son with all of my being. It’s a shame that after killing other of your children, speaking death into L*******’s life (lying about a miscarriage), then finally seeing how wonderful a baby he is you still lack the guilt of not being the best parent you can be. Or maybe you are. And if you are, my baby deserves better than what you are offering. I love him too much to spend another ounce of effort on you. And that effort means not maintaining or submitting to “email wars” because you have nothing but evil words to say. And as I do my best to be the best mother I can be I choose to speak life and not death as you do. Maybe one day you will see the birth of your son as a life lesson to learn from and grow from, rather than your "favorite mistake". Which is a horrific title. Mistake implies that if you had the power to change things you would, and as long as you think that, there is no way you can be anything close to a decent father.
May God help you through your issues as He have help me through mine.
Mel
D**** I’ve tried. I’ve tried to prevent my biggest fear but I can’t. I didn’t want L******* to grow up feeling unwanted or low self-esteem because his father isn’t consistently there but I’ve realized I can’t. I can't sit and hope that you will "come around". The mediator/counselor was just another way I was trying to get this parental journey on the right track but I can’t do it alone. The way you spoke to me on the phone was the last straw. I’ve held my tongue in hopes of making this a better situation but it doesn’t work. You seem to be mad at something. Me for not killing L*******, yourself for not being the father you envisioned, or just life for not going your way. I have realized you are more of a poison than an anecdote and the way you are not making L******* a priority and the way you are treating me is no longer tolerable. But guess this was inevitable since this has always been "my thing" (in your words) .L******* deserves people who love him and he has that, a great and blessed mother and family. You and your family can’t provide that. If following money, studying for the bar, and fixing a headlight (and might I add my headlight that has been out for months and recently got fixed) continue to come before your son then your activity in his life isn’t worth fighting for. I sincerely, with all of my heart, implore you to follow your monetary dreams and make a family at a time you prefer. A child deserves all of both of their parents’ effort, dedication, and sacrificial love which is something you are incapable of doing. L******* will be happy and will have a great life, I speak it into existence in Jesus name. I love my son with all of my being. It’s a shame that after killing other of your children, speaking death into L*******’s life (lying about a miscarriage), then finally seeing how wonderful a baby he is you still lack the guilt of not being the best parent you can be. Or maybe you are. And if you are, my baby deserves better than what you are offering. I love him too much to spend another ounce of effort on you. And that effort means not maintaining or submitting to “email wars” because you have nothing but evil words to say. And as I do my best to be the best mother I can be I choose to speak life and not death as you do. Maybe one day you will see the birth of your son as a life lesson to learn from and grow from, rather than your "favorite mistake". Which is a horrific title. Mistake implies that if you had the power to change things you would, and as long as you think that, there is no way you can be anything close to a decent father.
May God help you through your issues as He have help me through mine.
Mel
Monday, August 28, 2006
Who is in love with a stripper?
So, a male friend of mine is getting married soon and he was talking to me about his upcoming bachelor party. He and his friends are going to fly 100’s of miles away to Miami, Florida were they are going to partake of tasty wines and notorious strip clubs. As he jokingly presented the itinerary I asked him how his fiancé felt about this excursion. He first said that he really didn’t like strip clubs and was just going because he knows his boys would have fun (which is the second time I’ve heard a man say that) but then he said she is fine with it, she doesn’t understand it but she’s fine. He went on to say that she knows he won’t do anything to jeopardize their marriage and if she was insecure he wouldn’t be marrying her.
This conversation made me wonder if I would mind my fiancé having a stripper. In my “younger days” I wanted to be the “cool” girlfriend and be calm and relaxed about my boyfriend going to the strip club. But now, after some thought, I’ve decided that I would have a problem. So I asked myself why I would have a problem. I realized that it doesn’t have anything to do with insecurity. There are going to be attractive women everywhere and I’m not going to be the only person he finds attractive (as long as there isn’t anything beyond simply admiring a good-looking person) so it’s no BIG deal. What I do believe is that there is a level of respect that should be paid the other partner. Paying money to see half-naked females isn’t very respectable and I find it disrespectful to me. Most importantly my husband will be a Christian and although Christians are human and want bachelor parties too, we have the task of asking ourselves whether or not our actions will please God or at least will he be cool with it. Can you go to church the next day with no guilt or regrets? And lastly if you don’t like strippers and you know God wouldn’t approve but your friends are gun-ho on going to his place then shouldn’t there be some questions you should ask yourself? Is pleasing God or my friends more important? Would my mate be proud of my choice? Is it worth it, monetarily and spiritually?
I think many people have the misconception that going to strip clubs or watching pornography (whether together with your mate or not) doesn’t have an effect on their present of future relationships. These outside people do place a fantasy in the mind of your mate and, to some degree, raises the level of expectation or at least a new-found hope that their mate will be capable of performing the same way and it isn’t fair. I’m not a big fan of porn or strippers and if someone wants to enter into a life with me they need to be the same. Now that doesn’t mean I want him to disregard either if he is attached to them because I am not in the business of changing people. We just simply couldn’t be together.
This conversation made me wonder if I would mind my fiancé having a stripper. In my “younger days” I wanted to be the “cool” girlfriend and be calm and relaxed about my boyfriend going to the strip club. But now, after some thought, I’ve decided that I would have a problem. So I asked myself why I would have a problem. I realized that it doesn’t have anything to do with insecurity. There are going to be attractive women everywhere and I’m not going to be the only person he finds attractive (as long as there isn’t anything beyond simply admiring a good-looking person) so it’s no BIG deal. What I do believe is that there is a level of respect that should be paid the other partner. Paying money to see half-naked females isn’t very respectable and I find it disrespectful to me. Most importantly my husband will be a Christian and although Christians are human and want bachelor parties too, we have the task of asking ourselves whether or not our actions will please God or at least will he be cool with it. Can you go to church the next day with no guilt or regrets? And lastly if you don’t like strippers and you know God wouldn’t approve but your friends are gun-ho on going to his place then shouldn’t there be some questions you should ask yourself? Is pleasing God or my friends more important? Would my mate be proud of my choice? Is it worth it, monetarily and spiritually?
I think many people have the misconception that going to strip clubs or watching pornography (whether together with your mate or not) doesn’t have an effect on their present of future relationships. These outside people do place a fantasy in the mind of your mate and, to some degree, raises the level of expectation or at least a new-found hope that their mate will be capable of performing the same way and it isn’t fair. I’m not a big fan of porn or strippers and if someone wants to enter into a life with me they need to be the same. Now that doesn’t mean I want him to disregard either if he is attached to them because I am not in the business of changing people. We just simply couldn’t be together.
Marriage: For me or not for me…that is the question
As friends, family and acquaintances get engaged and married left and right I wonder if the right person came into my life would I be ready? I’ll be 25 soon which is of the “marring age” and if you asked me 1 ½ ago did I want to be married I would have told you “yes ASAP!” and I think that was more so for stability, fear of dating and getting caught up, being weak and not pleasing God. But if you ask me today I have no desire to get married before its time. And how will I know its time? When I feel and know myself inside and out and when God presents him to me. When I don’t second guess my feelings, thoughts, and actions in fear of a possible negative reaction. When I complete the age-old adage of having the capability and strength to change what I can, be strong and understand the things I can’t, and have the wisdom to know the difference. When I am completely set in the foundation of me as a daughter, a sister, a grand-daughter, a mother, a Christian, and a whole person. When I have a since of stability and peace with every move I make throughout this journey called life.
A friend of mine who was recently married said that marriage is about completely living for the other person and making them happy. It sounds nice especially when the effort is reciprocated but what about the things that made you, you before he/she came along? What about weekend trips with your friends or just hanging out with the girls? For example, a group of girls were going out of town for the weekend. It was actually her idea and she volunteered her car. So the day before she backs out because her husband wanted her to stay and those were going to ride with her simply could no longer go. Is that not selfish? And rude might I add. That just seems way too caught up in the other person. If going on that trip was going to make her happy (since we are suppose to be living for the other person) then why couldn’t he wait until she got back? They ARE married and it is just TWO days away from home. I know I don’t want that. I want a man who is happy when I’m happy being the “me” I was before we said “I do” and vice versa. I want to surprise him with super bowl tickets and a weekend in the city with his boys. If he is someone I’m going to marry I’m going to completely trust him (not because I have to but because I expect it to come natural and if it doesn’t he isn’t for me) and I want him to still maintain a sense of who he is. There should be no “completing” going on but instead two whole people sharing a life with a some compromises to make the merging of two lives work but not at the risk of sacrificing identities and a sense of self.
A friend of mine who was recently married said that marriage is about completely living for the other person and making them happy. It sounds nice especially when the effort is reciprocated but what about the things that made you, you before he/she came along? What about weekend trips with your friends or just hanging out with the girls? For example, a group of girls were going out of town for the weekend. It was actually her idea and she volunteered her car. So the day before she backs out because her husband wanted her to stay and those were going to ride with her simply could no longer go. Is that not selfish? And rude might I add. That just seems way too caught up in the other person. If going on that trip was going to make her happy (since we are suppose to be living for the other person) then why couldn’t he wait until she got back? They ARE married and it is just TWO days away from home. I know I don’t want that. I want a man who is happy when I’m happy being the “me” I was before we said “I do” and vice versa. I want to surprise him with super bowl tickets and a weekend in the city with his boys. If he is someone I’m going to marry I’m going to completely trust him (not because I have to but because I expect it to come natural and if it doesn’t he isn’t for me) and I want him to still maintain a sense of who he is. There should be no “completing” going on but instead two whole people sharing a life with a some compromises to make the merging of two lives work but not at the risk of sacrificing identities and a sense of self.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Tuskegee Experiment 2006???
Something interesting happened. My son was suppose to get his shots but I wanted to make sure that the vaccines didn't have mercury in it. The nurses assured me that there was no mercury in the vaccines (mercury can lead brain damage and now it is believed it could also lead to Autism). But I asked for the inserts (a list os the the "ingredients" in the medication) about 4 times then they finally gave them to me and what did the vaccines have... MERCURY! I don't know if they knew there was mercury in the vaccines and lied to me or they were just telling me what they were told to say and never checked themselves.
Well Langston won't get any shots until I can find a doctor that buys vaccines that don't have mercury. Is this Tuskegee Experiment 2006???
This DOES NOT sit well with me...
Well Langston won't get any shots until I can find a doctor that buys vaccines that don't have mercury. Is this Tuskegee Experiment 2006???
This DOES NOT sit well with me...
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Suspended!!!
So last week I was running late to pick up my son from daycare. I was trying to get there before 5pm since it's a dollar a minute charge for being late. Well I get pulled over by a cop sitting in the middle of the road with the speed gun (or whatever its called). How did I miss him! Anyway after what seemed like 3 hours he gives me a ticket. I was thinking it was going to be at the most $75 or something. I wasn't going THAT fast. It was $130. As I melted in my seat and drove off I tried to think of how I was going to pay this. As a single-parent-grad student I don't have much money to spare.
I read the ticket and it said that if I don't pay the ticket in 7 days they would suspend my license and put a warrent out for my arrest. DANG! Ohio is serious about this! There was also an option to go to court. Since I didn't have the money I opted for going to court. I dropped my son off at daycare and went to the court house. The court room was full of people with their own traffic violations.
Everyone had to bring in an attdance slip located outside the room to give to some lady up front and then a second person called you up to discuss your case. You have the option of entering in a guilty, no contest, or not guitly plea. If you enter not guilty then you have go to court again.
As I sat there I was wondering what I was going to say. I'm sure these people hear sob stories everyday about how someone can't pay for this because of XY and Z. I don't want to give excuses and I didn't want to enter a not guilty plea because I know I was speeding.
When my name was finally called the judge told me to come to the bench. She explained my ticket, and asked my plea which I said was guilty. She said the charge was the charge for the ticket plus $50 plus the court costs. She then asked if I was able to pay the fine today. The conversation went something like this:
Me: I'm not able to the ticket. Is there anyway I could do some community service. I admint I was speeding.
Judge: No. You have to pay for it. I can give you an extension though.
Me: Well, I won't get any money to pay for this until I get my financial aid in the fall.
Judge: When is that?
Me: September.
Judge: That's what you spend your financial aid on?
Me: (weird look on my face). Its just me and my son and I'm in grad school. I dont want to enter a not guilty plea because I WAS speeding I just can't pay for it. If there is another way I can deal with the ticket I will.
Judge: How are you going take care of yorself until then?
Me: I'm teaching an art class over the summer and I'm working with the Upward Bound program.
Judge: (looks at me with a disappointed my-goodness-chile look and did some fast writing) I'll suspended it all. You don't have to pay anything. But you need to stop speeding. You better be glad you got me.
Me: Thank you. Thank you so much!
I left the court room praising God that day. Every since I have had a renewed dedication to Him, he has granted me favor and I thank Him for that... because I NEED it. We need it.
Waiting for more blessings to come :-)
Is God in your life? He DOES work you know :-)
Be blessed!
I read the ticket and it said that if I don't pay the ticket in 7 days they would suspend my license and put a warrent out for my arrest. DANG! Ohio is serious about this! There was also an option to go to court. Since I didn't have the money I opted for going to court. I dropped my son off at daycare and went to the court house. The court room was full of people with their own traffic violations.
Everyone had to bring in an attdance slip located outside the room to give to some lady up front and then a second person called you up to discuss your case. You have the option of entering in a guilty, no contest, or not guitly plea. If you enter not guilty then you have go to court again.
As I sat there I was wondering what I was going to say. I'm sure these people hear sob stories everyday about how someone can't pay for this because of XY and Z. I don't want to give excuses and I didn't want to enter a not guilty plea because I know I was speeding.
When my name was finally called the judge told me to come to the bench. She explained my ticket, and asked my plea which I said was guilty. She said the charge was the charge for the ticket plus $50 plus the court costs. She then asked if I was able to pay the fine today. The conversation went something like this:
Me: I'm not able to the ticket. Is there anyway I could do some community service. I admint I was speeding.
Judge: No. You have to pay for it. I can give you an extension though.
Me: Well, I won't get any money to pay for this until I get my financial aid in the fall.
Judge: When is that?
Me: September.
Judge: That's what you spend your financial aid on?
Me: (weird look on my face). Its just me and my son and I'm in grad school. I dont want to enter a not guilty plea because I WAS speeding I just can't pay for it. If there is another way I can deal with the ticket I will.
Judge: How are you going take care of yorself until then?
Me: I'm teaching an art class over the summer and I'm working with the Upward Bound program.
Judge: (looks at me with a disappointed my-goodness-chile look and did some fast writing) I'll suspended it all. You don't have to pay anything. But you need to stop speeding. You better be glad you got me.
Me: Thank you. Thank you so much!
I left the court room praising God that day. Every since I have had a renewed dedication to Him, he has granted me favor and I thank Him for that... because I NEED it. We need it.
Waiting for more blessings to come :-)
Is God in your life? He DOES work you know :-)
Be blessed!
Sunday, May 28, 2006
A Mother’s Fear
Yesterday an older cousin of mine came to my house to visit because he was in town visiting his girlfriend. Mind you, he is married with four kids and the “girlfriend” is also married with two. He is in the military and was deployed to Hawaii and has been there for the past few years… that is where he met and lived with the girlfriend. He only had two weeks of leave and planned them around the girlfriend. Not to see his kids or his mother. After he found out how close his mother was to the city he was visiting, he decided to go visit his mother but was going to bring the girlfriend along too. His mother, my aunt is very upset about this and he can’t quite see why.
As an outsider this I what I see. Ten years ago he brought his girlfriend (now wife) to his mother asking for the acceptance of her and to bring her in her life as a daughter. Since my aunt only has one child and has always wanted more she gladly welcomed her in and they have become very close. In addition my aunt has been betrayed my men all of her life from her father up until the last man she has dated. So now her one and only son has not only asked her forget about his wife and now accept this girlfriend, but he has also become the type of man she despises.
Now I’m not a fan of being married just to be married, staying married for the kids, or getting married because you are pregnant. But I DON’T believe in leaving a marriage and a family on a whelm either. After both parties have tried everything then and ONLY then do they get a free pass to play in someone else’s bed.
But something else he has to realize is that he has four kids. Men everywhere need to realize that they have an important place in their children’s lives. For girls, their father will be/should be the first man they will ever love and the first man who is able to show them how love (not lust not sex) is suppose to feel and they should expect nothing less. Boys learn from their fathers what a man is supposed to be. The fathers set THE standard. I don’t think my cousin has thought about the standard he is setting.
As an outsider this I what I see. Ten years ago he brought his girlfriend (now wife) to his mother asking for the acceptance of her and to bring her in her life as a daughter. Since my aunt only has one child and has always wanted more she gladly welcomed her in and they have become very close. In addition my aunt has been betrayed my men all of her life from her father up until the last man she has dated. So now her one and only son has not only asked her forget about his wife and now accept this girlfriend, but he has also become the type of man she despises.
Now I’m not a fan of being married just to be married, staying married for the kids, or getting married because you are pregnant. But I DON’T believe in leaving a marriage and a family on a whelm either. After both parties have tried everything then and ONLY then do they get a free pass to play in someone else’s bed.
But something else he has to realize is that he has four kids. Men everywhere need to realize that they have an important place in their children’s lives. For girls, their father will be/should be the first man they will ever love and the first man who is able to show them how love (not lust not sex) is suppose to feel and they should expect nothing less. Boys learn from their fathers what a man is supposed to be. The fathers set THE standard. I don’t think my cousin has thought about the standard he is setting.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Publik Skool?
Ok, so I have recently been certified as a substitute teacher in surrounding counties. Well my first assignment was for a 5th grade special education class. And me not knowing what district is good or bad I didn't know what I was walking into. Well special ed can mean anything from and behavior problem to a physical issue to a learning disability. So in the middle of the day I helping this little boy with his work and he needed to know how to spell a few words. Instead of just telling him I told him to get a dictionary. There weren't any in he classroom so I had to go to the Library to go check one out. Meaning while he wanted to spell the word "cute". He spelled it "g-o-o-t"!!! Now this boy may have a disability but he isn't stupid. I told him to stop and take his time. Think about the word. So about 3 second later he spelled it "k-u-t-e", which still isn't correct but is a heck of alot closer, plus he IS only in the 5th grade. So when it was taking my lunch break I asked some teachers about the dictionaries and the children's spelling. Can you believe a teacher said "I'm not concerned about their spelling. I'm more concerned with their ideas. I'm a good speller." I looked at her like "what! You are not serious!" But didn't say a word. She said "those special ed kids don't know what a dictionary is or what letters look like let alone how to look them up in the dictionary." I was floored to say the least. These kids in many public school aren't doing bad because something is wrong with them, but there is something wrong with these teachers! The other teacher that was in the classroom I was in just kept saying "many of us are stuck doing this job we didn't want to be here." Well leave! You aren't going the kids any favors making their expectation level sub-par. It's sad. My son is going to private school, or we are moving to super white part of town were the good education is. That's sad to say but at my last two sub jobs when I worked in the "upper class" district with NO black teachers or any teachers of color ( and when I say NO I mean not ONE Black, Hispanic, Asian, or India teacher in sight.. Completely Lilly white) and NO black students well I saw one mixed girl I guess she counts as black, they had the nicest school I have ever seen. Just beautiful. Kids in million dollar homes who go home to watch TV in the home theater! Seriously, a movie theater. Out-of-control.
Publik skool. I'll think about it, but right now its a hands down no thanks.
Publik skool. I'll think about it, but right now its a hands down no thanks.
Crum vs Young
So I'm a having a bunch of baby-daddy drama. I got involved with my son's father due to poor judgment and I am paying for it now. We weren't in a relationship just "kicking it" and mistakes well unintended circumstances occurred. I became pregnant. I don't like to say "mistake" because that implies that if I had a chance to rewind time I would change that "mistake" and that's not the case for me.
Well my son's father is a special case. He is almost 10 years older than me and acts 10 years younger. I understand that having a child is a life changing experience on SOO many levels. And I understand that people cope with that change differently, but it is NOT solely my fault that we were presented with this situation. He has treated me so horribly during this situation, taking his anger out on me that I just want him out of our lives. He threatened to terminated his parental rights thinking that would upset me, when actually that would make me ecstatic! And I would let him take that measly $100-something dollars a month along with him. I would terminate the child support if that meant I would no longer have to deal with this jerk.
A part of me saying I shouldn't call him a jerk simply because he lacks maturity and coping skills. But then again, that doesn't give him license to treat me the way he has and said the things he has. I could go through the examples but I don't feel like re-hashing and plus it could take all day. The newest "thing" is that he wants to change MY son's last name from Crum to Young and is willing to take me to court over it. I guess since he just graduating from law school and everything he wants make this his first case. He gave me a story about how my son will grow up being picked on if he has my last name because that means his parents weren't together and it implies that his father isn't in his life blah blah blah, and how when he goes to pick him up from daycare there could be confusion if he is the parent or not blah blah blah... Well I did a little survey and out of the guys I talked to with their mother's name ZERO got picked on and thought is was ludicrous to think so. He has also picked my son up from day care and there was not a problem. And he was never picked on. He got all of that story from a name change case that happened here in Ohio. I read the case myself.
But since he rarely follows through with anything he says we shall see if he puts this motion in to play. I'm not worried whatever is to happen will happen. I gave him the opportunity to claim my son a long time ago. And he still has that opportunity. I have never denied him access to him. I asked him if he wanted to be a part of his life and if he choose to be, then he can have his last name. He said he didn't want anything to do with him so I gave my son MY father's last name. The name of the family who loves him and has loved him before they ever saw him... and some still haven't been able to see him and they still love him.
He has spoken so much death in his son's life and has tried to get his way through lying and manipulation that whatever he does WILL come back to haunt him in one form or another. Whether when he does want to have a another child with someone, then that child won't live or if he/she does they will hate him. Or my son will abhor the very ground he walks on... his one and only son. And that won't be because of me that will be because of Karma. And if you don't think you don't reap what you sow.. try it. Plant seeds of unforgivingness, hatred, vindictiveness, deceitfulness, anger, and manipulation and see what come back at you. It's a spiritual principle whether you are religious or not. We will see what happens, but I want my son's name to say Crum because as indecisive as his father is, who knows if he will remain in his life. And I don't want my son to remember the fact that his father chose not be around and not to be in his life, every time he writes his name.
Well my son's father is a special case. He is almost 10 years older than me and acts 10 years younger. I understand that having a child is a life changing experience on SOO many levels. And I understand that people cope with that change differently, but it is NOT solely my fault that we were presented with this situation. He has treated me so horribly during this situation, taking his anger out on me that I just want him out of our lives. He threatened to terminated his parental rights thinking that would upset me, when actually that would make me ecstatic! And I would let him take that measly $100-something dollars a month along with him. I would terminate the child support if that meant I would no longer have to deal with this jerk.
A part of me saying I shouldn't call him a jerk simply because he lacks maturity and coping skills. But then again, that doesn't give him license to treat me the way he has and said the things he has. I could go through the examples but I don't feel like re-hashing and plus it could take all day. The newest "thing" is that he wants to change MY son's last name from Crum to Young and is willing to take me to court over it. I guess since he just graduating from law school and everything he wants make this his first case. He gave me a story about how my son will grow up being picked on if he has my last name because that means his parents weren't together and it implies that his father isn't in his life blah blah blah, and how when he goes to pick him up from daycare there could be confusion if he is the parent or not blah blah blah... Well I did a little survey and out of the guys I talked to with their mother's name ZERO got picked on and thought is was ludicrous to think so. He has also picked my son up from day care and there was not a problem. And he was never picked on. He got all of that story from a name change case that happened here in Ohio. I read the case myself.
But since he rarely follows through with anything he says we shall see if he puts this motion in to play. I'm not worried whatever is to happen will happen. I gave him the opportunity to claim my son a long time ago. And he still has that opportunity. I have never denied him access to him. I asked him if he wanted to be a part of his life and if he choose to be, then he can have his last name. He said he didn't want anything to do with him so I gave my son MY father's last name. The name of the family who loves him and has loved him before they ever saw him... and some still haven't been able to see him and they still love him.
He has spoken so much death in his son's life and has tried to get his way through lying and manipulation that whatever he does WILL come back to haunt him in one form or another. Whether when he does want to have a another child with someone, then that child won't live or if he/she does they will hate him. Or my son will abhor the very ground he walks on... his one and only son. And that won't be because of me that will be because of Karma. And if you don't think you don't reap what you sow.. try it. Plant seeds of unforgivingness, hatred, vindictiveness, deceitfulness, anger, and manipulation and see what come back at you. It's a spiritual principle whether you are religious or not. We will see what happens, but I want my son's name to say Crum because as indecisive as his father is, who knows if he will remain in his life. And I don't want my son to remember the fact that his father chose not be around and not to be in his life, every time he writes his name.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Going back home
I didn’t realize my drama queen tendencies until I went back home. I am so much like my mother that I have begun to annoy myself. Seriously. I have done some sobering personality introspection in hopes of completely liking what I see and hope that people like what they see as well. So many people say, “I don’t care what people think about me.” Am I wrong for caring? I do to an extent. I don’t want to give off the wrong impression or unintentionally falsify characteristics (which I think I do sometimes). Sometimes I don’t want to be happy or funny. Sometimes I don’t want to smile at people but I do because I don’t want them to think I’m rude because I’m not…intentionally. Now people’s view of me doesn’t guide my life entirely… if at all. If I show you the complete and unrestrained me and let you know how I feel in all sincerity and you choose not to like me then there isn’t anything I can do… oh well. It’s unfortunate though. My mom is great and I love her dearly but she can be a bit much at times.
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