hey, can we be frank for a minute?
Now lets be Frank about this Joe Biden/Barack Obama situation. The problem with the word “articulate” is that it’s a term that’s rarely used to describe the behavior or speech of grown adults. In the United States, the term “articulate” is generally reserved as adjective for describing smart children or young adults. To offer one classic example: I might use the word “articulate” to describe a well mannered teenage boy who is attempting to date my daughter. I might say, “well, he’s a good kid, he’s articulate, and he seems to be have been raised well.”
Biden and Bush’s use of the term “articulate” to describe Obama thus plays into a well established history of white men referring to African American men as “child-like”, as if describing some sort of arrested development. One of the most frequent metaphors used to describe how black men are “emasculated” in everyday life, is the example of white men using the phrase “Hey Boy” while referring to grown black men.
By using “articulate” as the adjective choice to refer to Obama, Biden and Bush unconsciously (or perhaps consciously) are referring to him as if he is a child, or perhaps a “bright” teenager.
Now lets be Frank, Fantasia Barrio looks fierce on the cover of the new VIBE VIXEN. And rest assured I don’t mean “fierce” in that friendly, "you-go-girl" Tyra-Banks kind of way. I mean ‘fierce’ in that sistah-are-you-kidding-me-you-look-a-dam-fool kind of way. Who told them that strawberry blond hair with blue eye shadow and greased-up lips was hot? What the fuck?!
And speaking of sistahs lookin' a mess on magazine covers, have you seen the cover of Heart & Soul Magazine? will someone please tell the "spiritual" Erykah Badu to give it a break. I mean really.
Now I love Jennifer Hudson, but lets be Frank about something. Truth be told, the Best Supporting Actress award at the Academy Awards should be going to Cate Blanchett for Notes on a Scandal. Hudson is America’s new sweetheart, deservingly so, but we all know dam well mama wasn’t quite the “BEST” in the acting department. There were more than a couple times during DREAMGIRLS when I felt myself saying, “did I just step into a bad High School musical?” C’mon now, ya’ll know I’m not lying.
Can I be Frank? I want Hilary over Barack for Prez in 2008. What else is there to say? A Clinton/Barack ballad would be ideal, but is America really ready to elect the most racially loaded couple metaphor in the history of race relations: a white woman with a black man? It aint happenin' folks, sorry…
And you know what, speaking of all of these American Idols, can I be muthafucking Frank? I’m sick of that dam show. The shit just keeps getting worst every year. At this point Paula is a confirmed coke-head and Simon’s antics are also getting out of control. When will America's reality show craze finally come to an end? Shit.
And finally, Frankly speaking, I dont know if I can keep up with all thats going on with the Ballroom Rockstar folks.
Ok, follow me now: Rockstar Magazine, which was formerly Ballroom Rockstar Magazine, is now no longer "Rockstar" at all, but instead UneQ Magazine. Yes, thats right, Ballroom Rockstar has gotten yet another facelift. What do you think about this cover with B. Michael? This must be for an older---MUCH OLDER---crowd I guess. Now I wont judge the magazine until I actually read it, but if i find ONE ERROR, im going off! Thanks Charles for the heads up.
Hey listen, I just Being Frank. Are you?
*Raises church finger meekly*
Um...yea...so...
1. Yea Ms. Hudson shouldn't win, and at times Dreamgirls was cheesy but then again there is a camp element that is inherent in the musical.
2. Fantasia looks like she's straining to take a shit in that photo...maybe its just me. In defense of Ms. Badu, at least she's consistent. That chick has been on the left side of different for a good decade now.
3. The use of the term "articulate" is be expected in the political world honestly. Biden knew what he was doing, as did Bush. I mean think about this, there in a business, yes politics is a multi-billion dollar industry, where they have staffers debate the meaning of words like "the" and the placement of commas for WEEKS. I've been privy to it. So they know how to craft the English language to say what they want. But what I find even more interesting is what drove them to say articulate. I mean could it be that a half white man who was educated similarly and had a background more akin to them than past African-American presidential candidates have played a part? Just me thinking outloud.
4. A Clinton/Barack ticket is way too liberal and diverse. It would be like Democrats giving the White House to the Republicans...again. What they really need to do is whomever wins the nod if either, should have some White Democratic former governor of a moderate or Red State. For instance Mark Warner of Virginia. That will be a much more competitive ticket.
5. Never watch American Idol, if I wanted to see crack head sing, and big Black Women with soulful voices sanging, I could stand outside my front door.
6. The new magazine looks like its for Old Queens who reminisce about the 70's. Not really something to target the under 35 crowd...
Just my thoughts
Posted by
WiseYoungMan |
2/08/2007
I think J-Hud did the absolute best that anyone could've done with that script, most of Effie's flaws was a comment on the writing, not on J-Hud's acting. But anyway, the Oscar will probably go to that little kid from Little Miss Sunshine. I love Cate down, but she already has an Oscar.
Posted by
Anonymous |
2/08/2007
TYPO: Eva Pigford now goes by Eva Marcille in 2007. See cover...
Posted by
Anonymous |
2/09/2007
I thought I was the only one who felt Jennifer did not deserve to win in comparison to the other females nominated. Whoever was the PR for Dreamgirls deserves an award for pumping it up to the greatness it was not. However, if the Academy divided the drama actors from the musical/comedy actors like the Golden Globes...hands down Jennifer should win.
Posted by
Anonymous |
2/09/2007
1. I still think Jennifer should win. Based on the script she was great.
2. Fantasia looks a mess
3. I think it was all blown out of proportion. There is a black blogger that addresses this http://amaddemocrat.blogspot.com
4.This is still America and its a white male dominated society. Clinton/obama...Yeah right
5.The show sucks
6. I pass
Posted by
Anonymous |
2/10/2007
Fantasia always looks a mess and her new cd is garbage... mad I wasted a good blank cd on that.
And there is no way Jennifer is going to win over Cate... I can just see Beyonce doing a lil jig of joy in the back now.
And Ballroom Rockstar to Rockstar to Uneq... a mess!!
Posted by
C. Baptiste-Williams |
2/12/2007