"I guess 300 plus years of Western indoctrination (and colonization) really is sticking with some us in this new millennium"
That's the understatement of the year coming from a black conservative.
Did you ask Sammy for a doctor referral Dez?
blah, blah, blah. No one is acknowledging your obtuse statements Steve. Your card has been picked. We're not living in the age of Black drones. I'm allowed to have conservative views and have a differeing opinion from the "tribe." Memo to you-slavery is over, bruh. At least for SOME of us....
I haven’t seen the film but no matter how bad it depicts black life for some its probably accurate.
Frank, the problem with this depiction, which I do think is highly exaggerated, if not an exception instead of the rule is that from a cultural perspective, we've have gone to this "well" before. We need to see normalcy depicted on screen as well. We NEED to see sci-fi, romance, drama and fantasy just for our collective sanity. It's no accident that these films have a tendency to be heavily lauded by the Hollywood elite as "authentic" You will see an award handed out for Precious and yet receive very little support for say, a Toussaint film. Black folks should not be lulled into believing that this type of cinema is "normal" for us as it relates to Black cinema. As you can see..this over reliance on Black dysfunction as a plot device is wearing thin.
"I'm allowed to have conservative views and have a differeing opinion from the "tribe.""
Oh the "persecutted black conservative routine"!!!!
Look dburt nobody is looking to abridge your civil liberties.
But you black righties seem to be very thin skinned and get hysterical when taken to task for your obviously fraudulent positions.
You just admitted it.
You just wanna be "different".
Steve, try something novel and actually discuss the entry. Any thoughts on Sammy Sosa or Precious? Maybe you might want to turn down your obsession with conservatives of color and stick to the subject at hand...if you can.
Excuse me while I LMFAO but did this critic just call Precious a "carnival of black degradation" whilst lauding NORBIT, frikkin NORBIT as an excellent black film? To quote Moe Syzlak "gasp, sputter--i'm CHOKIN on my own rage here!" or at least I will be after the guffaws of disbelief cease. He lost all credibility after that line!
Hey afronerd
I found this article that attempts to explain what happened to Sammy Sosa, LOL! Skin rejuvenation?!?! LMAO!
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog...?
urn=mlb,201086
Yeah, I kinda agree with princess aura, he made some interesting points but his list of other black movie alternatives was pretty funny (exception Akeelah and the Bee, The Ladykillers). Norbit!! Ha Ha...
Anyways, I'm not totally against the movie itself since it does highlight what some black people (people in general) go through and it does have a positive message in the end. I may see it myself.
However, I do agree that the underlying problem is that these types of movies are being treated as the norm of black life instead of the exception. And I can agree with Mr. White on the fact that other black movies of different genres aren't given the same type of acclaim b/c of this treatment.
Back to Sosa, I know the link I gave gives the same story that you have on your site, but there are a few more pictures of him that u may or may not have seen. Either way That's one hell of a skin treatment, even have green contacts to boot, LOL!
Oh and excuse my oversight. LITTLE MAN is on his list of excellent black films! This shuck n jive special featured Marlon Wayans as a ghetto midget disguised as a toddler who gets adopted by some family. For what reason I do not care to know. Did White just do a google search for black films made in the past 5 years and then did a "copy/paste" into his column? *eyeroll while delicately clutching forehead in a vain attempt to quell the throbbing*
"Any thoughts on Sammy Sosa or Precious?"
Yeah.
Sosa is a self-hating steroid shootin buffoon.
Probably a Republican too.
Yeah, White was dead on in his review but his list of Black films that were allegedly a better representation takes his argument down a notch. I was even shocked that Stanley Crouch also gave the film a positive review:
http://www.nydailynews.com/opini...ouch/
index.html
Not a good look. And to Steve, again, your schtick is wearing then. To equate the ENTIRE Republican party or conservatism as "bad" is akin to looking at the ENTIRE Black race as bad. Neither is true or acceptable. I do not agree with liberalism in its totality but are ALL liberals bad people? No. No words about the "Precious" film? Or is she "republican" too? You're getting closer to the troll description since you never converse with folks in here. Why the vitriol? It's truly a tired game you're playing....And the funny thing is...I support our President and voted for him in spite of this blog's conservative bent.
I didn't see the "Precious" movioe so I cannot comment at this time.
But tell me black man, just what is it that you are trying to conserve?
Will you not admit that conservatism over the last 50 years has been predicated on anti-black sentiment, white fears and resentment as well as the aspersion of blacks and browns as permanently troublesome and deleterious out groups?
Given that fact could you please explain to me why any intelligent black person would choose that political route for expression?
"Did you ask Sammy for a doctor referral Dez?"
LOL, but this treatment isn't what dburt is searching for. When they develop a pill that will convert him into a card carrying white man, I'm sure he will be first in line.
Troll? Vortex? Damn, you take ish from others and just run with it huh? Massa I mean marbles mentions the word and you just can't stop repeating it. He must get a real kick out of being able to pull the strings of a Black man.
"Given that fact could you please explain to me why any intelligent black person would choose that political route for expression?"
I think an equally important question would be, outside of talking sh*t online and slobbering all over the white man, what do you or have you done for Black folks in the community dburt?
Your type of negro talks a good game but NEVER does the leg work.
Afronerd, let me first say that I love this site for doing exactly what your mission intends. I stumbled upon this site not too long ago and have found the intelligent discourse here stimulating. Do I agree with all of your assertions? No. In fact I may actually find myself more politically aligned with *ahem* some of your more "passionate"critics. Yet I know that honorable men and women can differ. Your worldview doesn't have to be the same as mine in order for you to add wisdom and quality to my life. Had I abandoned this site every time I disagreed with one of your comments I would have never learned of the BlackRock Coalition and been able to open my son's eyes up to Afro Punk and rockers that look like us. Yes, we love rock music too and you showed us that we're not "white" or "weird" or "nerds" because of it. We appreciate all forms of music. We're well rounded artists! Phew *end rant*
OK back to the subject matter: Precious. Yes I disagree with you here as well! And lo and behold I can do so without insulting you. The most cogent argument I've heard in defense of the black movies you've criticized lately is that these filmmakers, be it Tyler Perry or Mr. Daniels cannot be everything to all black people. There's room in the industry for all artistic black voices but we need to look at the barriers keeping these other filmmakers from having a platform. Yes I understand responsibility--I cringe at coonery, but it wouldn't offend so much if there wasn't a dearth of black images on the screen. As far as Daniels' film, if he's not a sci fi or romcom guy then he shouldn't be forced to do those fims if that's not his voice. I'm an aspiring artist. I like comedy and humor. Can I wax eloquent on matters of politics, social justice etc? Yes, but that's not what I choose to do with my gift. Is it necessary? Yes, but so is humor. I'll let the "afronerd" cartoonists who can probably spin those tales better than me handle that. So again, let's deal with what's holding these artists back rather than tearing down those who are able to get there work out there. It smacks a little of the crabs in the barrel, black on black "playa hatin".
Just to reiterate: I love this site!
@Afronerd
Just curious, What is the significance of stanley crouch? Does he normally have a conservative bend on movie reviews?
Trust me, I really do understand your frustration about the one-sided representation of black life, as shown in the subject matter of Precious. Even so, putting those frustrations aside, I would still like to see the film ONLY because I like films in which the main character redeems themselves in the end regardless of their traits, and the potential positive message it sends (factoring out assumptions that all black life is how depicted).
I guess princess aura makes a good point, you can't expect a Tyler perry or a Daniels to want to do a sci fi or action movie if its not their forte. It is a complicated issue as stated on your radio show.
My frustrations are not necessarily on Tyler Perry (even though some of his characters in his Madea based films make me cringe despite overall message) but mainly on:
1.) the industry that doesn't recognize alternate talent and genres in black films, and doesn't give them the accolades it deserves
2.) some of the black filmmakers who rely too much on hollywood to do it for them, which discourages creation of alternate genres vs taking a Nigerian (Nollywood) approach and doing it themselves despite lack of resources.
I used to get frustrated with the some of the black audience because it seemed like they only seem to like/support the same old tired formula movies like Precious, Tyler Perry films but that's what people like, you can't change it. Alternative black filmmakers just gotta try and do their best in thinking of creative ways in reaching an alternative black audience and or existing cliched ones.
"Yes I disagree with you here as well! And lo and behold I can do so without insulting you."
Good for you princess aura, great to see that people can disagree but still show respect to afronerd's forum and message.
Spike Lee Rips Tyler Perry
http://globalgrind.com/content/6...erry/?sc=1&
pi=1
Spike Lee had an interview with Ed Gordon on Our World with Black Enterprise scheduled to air this weekend. In the interview he complained about “coonery and buffoonery” and both of Tyler Perry’s shows “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne,” comparing them to characters from minstrel shows.
“We’ve had this discussion back and forth. When John Singleton [made 'Boyz in the Hood'], people came out to see it. But when he did ‘Rosewood,’ nobody showed up. So a lot of this is on us! You vote with your pocketbook, your wallet. You vote with your time sitting in front of the idiot box, and [Tyler Perry] has a huge audience. We shouldn’t think that Tyler Perry is going to make the same film that I am going to make, or that John Singleton or my cousin Malcolm Lee [would make]. As African-Americans, we’re not one monolithic group, so there is room for all of that. But at the same time, for me, the imaging is troubling and it harkens back to ‘Amos n’ Andy.’”
“Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors, but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is coonery and buffoonery. I know it’s making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better. … I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne”), and I am scratching my head. We got a black president, and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep ‘n’ Eat?
FinalCall.com News
Perspectives
An interview with Dr. Francis Cress Welsing
By FinalCall.com News
Updated Nov 26, 2002, 10:15 pm
http://www.africawithin.com/
wels...g_interview.htm
"I look at the system of racism having come into being consciously because the White population recognized, after they circumnavigated the globe, that they were a tiny minority, fewer that one-tenth of the people on the planet. And they were genetic-recessive compared to the genetic dominance of people who produce color. They realized that they could be genetically annihilated and White people could, as a collective of people, disappear. They worked out a system for White survival, which entails dominating all of the Black, Brown, Red and Yellow people on the planet. So racism is a behavioral system for the survival of White people. I would advise Black people and other people of color that since the practice of racism is the practice of White genetic survival, that the expectation that people who classify themselves as White can change this behavior is a high level expectation. Black people [must] finally understand that White people are playing a White survival game [which] has to inferiorize the functioning of Black and other people of color.
Well, how do we come out of the inferiorized state? We have to devise those means of behavior that are going to allow for the maximal development of the Black genetically constituted potential. That begins with how we relate to the behavior of sex. If we want to produce strong Black males and females, then we have to realize that White supremacy is not going to set up the conditions where that will happen because they are in fear of strong Black, Brown, Red and Yellow people. They] set up a dynamic where you end up with large numbers of teenagers and children reproducing, single parents reproducing and not being able to guide the development of male children to functional adult male status. Black people [should] have quality control of Black reproduction. Well, how do we go about it? You have to have mature parents. You have to have parents who are married. If I could wave the magic wand, Black people wouldn’t have sex until they got married and they wouldn’t get married until they were 30. In the meantime, they would be going to school."
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to say to The Final Call audience?
A: "I am suggesting that for the sake of Black mental health and for Black intelligence that all people of color must understand the dynamic of racism/White supremacy, what it is and how it works, so that they can have an appropriate, self-respecting response to racism. Television is indoctrinating Black people to think of themselves as buffoons and clowns and trashy people. By understanding racism you will understand that this is what the system of racism survives on. As long as we are disrespecting ourselves and acting in a stupid, demeaning manner, this furthers the dynamic of racism/White su
Hey raye, regarding your questions about Crouch, he is a noted jazz critic/historian and a columnist that writes with a conservative edge although I do not think he is a card carrying Republican. Here's just a an example of some his thoughts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q...h?v=q-
st9gbEHDc
He has been a staunch critic of Gangster rap over the years as well.
Ah, Stanley Crouch.
In my opinion, that guy is the closest thing we have in modern times to the American equivalent of a scathing, acidic British critic. No one, I say, NO ONE can utterly destroy their targets like old-school British could, while barely seeming to lift a verbal finger. Crouch's columns simply drip with calm, cool venom.
This makes him GREAT fun to read when you agree with him, and infuriating and painful when you don't.
(I don't care for rap or hip hop, and even I think he's unfairly elitist and absolutist when he blasts it. That's saying something.)
Armond White just leaves my head spinning. I can never figure out that guy. His taste is so unpredictable---you'd think a guy with such an elitist tone wouldn't go around singing the praises of "Norbit", or being Spielberg's #1 fan when most snobbish critics would probably deride his films as schlock for the common rabble (schmucks). He's an enigma.
Actually, now that I think about it---there's this British theater critic whose name I can't remember--he is just the worst. He just DESTROYS his targets in ways that Armond White or even Crouch couldn't dream of. Old-school British coolness mixed with modern cheerful skewering. And ya know something? He's ALSO black! XD
"Can you imagine a romantic (and expensive) horror flick with a majority Black/Brown cast that wouldn't be played for laughs?"
I'd never heard of Calvin Lockhart before stumbling onto 1974's "The Beast Must Die." It got my attention and can you blame me? You almost never see black people in roles or settings like that. Too bad it's a terribly made movie (thank GOD we're out of that period of "day passing as night" location shooting!)---though parts of it were entertaining.
I did like "Vampire in Brooklyn" (1995). It was a scare comedy, but Eddie Murphy played the role straight. I was fascinated by that character, partly because of how utterly different it was from Murphy's default persona.
"Or as I once posited, A Black Harry Potter-esque film, with its own unique mythos?"
I can't remember what its name---there's some black writer who was small-press publishing his own epic that he described in "black Harry Potter" terms. I've never read it and it's not something you're going to find in mainstream stores, so I dunno if it's any good or not. It's just too bad that even if it IS good, it's almost certainly doomed to a life of "niche."
New to the blog....I don't understand the anger coming from some posters. Afro nerd is looking for alternatives to his lifestyle and is offering a voice to others in his situation.
I have notice growing up that when I didn’t confirm to the ideology of some black folks that I was labeled as not being part of the “group”, like my opinion didn’t matter because I didn’t agree with their points. Is it majority rule all over again?
“If you’re not with me you are against me” type of mentality.
Do the folks that disagree so harshly with Afro nerd believe him to be some type of race traitor? Why all the hate??...maybe there is a history between the people here that I am not familiar with?
Also, Afro nerd I don’t think that you are a conservative you are more of Black Nationalist. I want us to fix our own problems and have nothing to do with any other race helping or hindering us either. However, the question comes is, how you describe success in your endeavor, is it a Euro-centric ideology you seek a more Afro-centric view. What glass do you look through?
Any who, Black American images have not been betrayed great in the media recently or ever. That is why I love the Obama’s; they are like the lighthouse in the fog of black image degradation. We need an anti deformation league.
Spontaneous:
What is an Afrocentric view of success?
I shouldn't say Afro centric but maybe a fairer and more balance view of the world. Not coming from the Eurocentric view point of beauty, success and behavior.
I get your drift except for the "behavior" part.
I don't mean to nitpick. It's just that this particular point is something that I've never understood. What is Eurocentric "behavior," exactly?
It reminds me a little of the bizarre term "white values," which IMO inadvertantly points an accusatory finger backwards at the person saying it, instead of the "whites" or "Eurocentrics" being talked about.
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