Five For Friday: Got Me Tight

via The Beautiful Struggler - Me, Myself and Eye

We haven't had much of a summer in New York this year. It's been like a spring-fall. Spall, if you will. However, it's no surprise that as usual, it's Winter in Negronia.

Economy is still a mess, jobs are few and far between, Michael's still dead and CNN has released "Black In America 2: Who Knew There Was A Black Upper Middle Class?" The police handcuffed old Skip Gates. How dreadful. In the spirit of struggle and frustration, this week's Five For Friday consists of the things that have got me the most vexed going in to what is supposed to be International Sister Toldja Birthday Weekend. Proceed with frustration.

1) Breaking News: The President Calls Spade "A Spade"

If President Bush had called the actions of the police officers in the Gates case "stupid", people would have either agreed with him, used his comments as evidence that he was not a bigot or just disagreed politely, sans outrage. However, the Cambridge cops cannot believe the audacity of that uppity nigga from Chicago to dare question the authority of the almighty police. Not only have they publicly criticized his words, they have DEMANDED an apology. Motherfucka, you don't demand an apology from the President of the United States! Not for calling the choice to arrest a man in his own home for trespassing "stupid", stupid! If you take race out of the equation, what happened was stupid! And now the POTUS is being accused of "stoking racial tensions" by having the nerve to speak out on an issue that had already stoked racial tensions.

2) Oh Yeah, The Whole Arrest Thing

This gentleman is about as intimidating and potentially dangerous as a field mouse. And they handcuffed him. With a cane. He walks with a cane. A fucking cane.

Which brings me to say this: can the arrest of the near-elderly Skip Gates for breaking in to his own home finally be the death knell for this foolish notion of a "post-racial America"? Can we get all you head-in-the-clouds clowns to stop pretending that race and racism don't exist? Let that please be the one good thing that comes from this man's senseless ordeal.

3) He Still Hasn't O'D?

I'm sorry, but the existence of Little Wayne is as much a plague on Negronia as scratch off tickets and fried chicken served from behind bulletproof glass. And this recently released freestyle or mixtape with him saying the whole "I pledge allegiance to the flag, that Michael Jackson is a fag" thing makes me hate him even more. I know the line was said before MJ's passing, but why would that little freaking gremlin who considers himself to be such a serious musician disrespect one of the GOAT's like that? Jermaine Jackson said he wishes it had been him and not Michael who passed. I would have voted for Weezy myself. DCWIO.

4)You See Me, Hi Hater.

I got an InStyler and after my workouts this week, I have diligently removed any traces of Africa from my hair in the locker room. I was once again cognizant of something I find totes annoying: I've had women give me the gas face because I have curly hair, but nothing is worse than the look you get from a "natural" sister when you are straightening your shit out in front of them. Mind you, when I had my locs or wear a fro, the perm and weave set never made me feel awkward or like they were judging me. Sis, just because your hair is kinky does NOT mean your mind is straight. And just because I or someone else may want to mess with some heat, some wigs or some weave does NOT mean you will best us in the "Blacker Than Thou" Olympics. Get the hell on out of here with that! Don't get me wrong- I am the biggest champion of natural hair. I think it's a damn shame that a lot of sisters can't bear the sight of themselves with their real hair texture. However, I dont think there is anything wrong when someone who loves thyself as they are switches it up every now and again. And I know sisters with full-out perms (which I am very against, sorry) who will rock you when it comes to the things they actually DO in the community and for the people. So you Judgemental Jessicas need to step the heck off. Probably the same women who worship at the temple of Lauryn Hill, no matter how bad her attitude has gotten towards her fans and peers. And she has a wig too these days, by the way.

5)Deviant Is More Like It

Um, Video Hits One is bringing back their Divas concert special and they have put together an epic tragedy of a line up: Leona Lewis (eh), Adele (well...), Kelly Clarkson (no) and Miley Cyrus (WHAT THE HELL). Oh, and they are taping it at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. I am thinking of going out there and protesting. What in the wonderful world of foolishness were they thinking? I don't expect much from Vh1, but this is the pitts. Why didn't they just go on and call Clay Aiken?

I hate that I've been so busy lately that I've slipped on my Jazz Messenger duties, y'all! Forgive me lovelies and enjoy this with my regrets-from Max Roach's "Freedom Now- We Insist" suite, with his then wife on vocals, the stunning Abbey Lincoln:

Have a swell weekend! Oh, and DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR ME IN THE 2009 BLACK WEB AWARDS! Vote or die! Vote or die!

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