Via Twitter

From BlackVoices

This is seriously getting ridiculous. Just yesterday we wrote about Pakistani designer Aamna Aqeel’s “Be My Slave” photo shoot, which showed a white model being waited on by a small black boy, and now we’ve just learned that the store Zara apparently thinks slavery is trendy too.

Huff Post blogger and culture critic/DJ/visual artist, Amanda Seales, brought our attention to a Zara necklace adorned with both gold faces and dark black faces with bright red lips that closely resemble slave and other historically racial-insensitive figures.

Read more at BlackVoices.com

Source: WENN

Earlier this week we told you about the internet’s negative reaction to Queens rapper LL Cool J’s collaborative track with country singer Brad Paisely. During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, LL addressed the controversial track, titled “Accidental Racist” and admits that it “wasn’t perfect,” but it was put out with good intensions. Check out some of what he had to say.

On how he feels about the controversy surrounding “Accidental Racist:”

“I feel good. The song wasn’t perfect. You can’t fit 300 or 400 years of history into a three or four-minute song.”

On being criticized for downplaying slavery and racism:

“A lot of people took offense to the lyrics and ultimately, I can’t defend the song, but I can clarify my intentions. There’s a point in the song where I say, ‘If you don’t judge my du-rag, I won’t judge your red flag.’ I in no way would compare the history of the Confederate flag with a du-rag. However, when you think about a kid like Trayvon Martin, and you think about some of the things that happen in society based on clothing and when you put it in its proper context it makes sense.”

“I would never suggest to anyone that we should forget slavery and act like that didn’t happen. I understand the systemic racism that exists. But if the playing field is unleveled and you feel it’s unfair, then maybe putting down some of that baggage would help you to make it up that hill a little bit easier.”

On his intentions behind putting out the song: 

“The intention was to put a song out there that causes people to have a conversation. The fact that we’re having so many conversations about this song is proof that the song did its job. People are talking about it. That elephant in the room needs to be discussed.”

Turn the page to watch LL’s interview. Do you feel he has a point? 

Carlos Walton is a former math teacher, dean, and interim principal for NYC’s Department Of Education. He holds degrees from Hampton University and Cambridge College.  For 12 years, he has served as Executive Director of APEX’s Manhood Training & College Prep Initiative, placing hundreds of youngsters in HBCUs. He enjoys speaking, community organizing, martial arts and spending time with his daughter, Selah.

Second Time Around

I never want to say the words “I am divorced”.  As happy, grateful, and blessed as I am to be divorced, it just doesn’t have a very attractive ring to it, especially to women.  It’s a blemish on my character and speaks to failure.  For this reason, and so many more, I oftentimes don’t put it out there.  To be honest, I stay so far away from that ugly time of my life that I sometimes forget that I’m a divorcee.  Out of sight, out of mind.

Without making a conscious decision to do so, it has become an excellent coping mechanism.  Being a man who lives by the principle of “constant elevation” and putting in the work to be better and do better, there’s so many other aspects of my life I’d rather highlight. However, once exploring a relationship, that divorced status inevitably becomes a conversation.  Although I take full responsibility for the demise of that relationship, from accepting a premature proposal to changing the locks on my door, who really wants to disclose times of poor decision making?  Especially in regard to something as serious and relevant as marriage.  Nevertheless, a divorced man and single father is who I am, and my head does not bow, in fact, my Soldier spirit won’t allow it.

As I get to know women now, I don’t disregard their family background.  I listen keenly to the stories and experiences that shaped their character.  I look to see the kind of people they keep close and how those people respond to them.  Show me your friends and I’ll show you who you are. I can still here my sweet granny’s words, like it was yesterday.  There’s a lot to be said about forgotten wisdom.  Although still plagued by societal ignorance, I had to sift through guidance like, “don’t bring nothing too black back here, ain’t nothing too black, too good” and “remember the four F’s…Find them, Fool them, F*** them and Forget them. There’s still some pearls that we’ve received that we forget to apply and appreciate.  I’ve learned to be patient, and more importantly, quite attentive in my process of getting to know women.

I work in youth development and work very long hours so I tend to only meet women in my field; really beautiful, intelligent and quality women at that, some of whom have gone to Ivy League schools, as well as run schools and programs of their own.  Women extremely accomplished in their pursuits, and who look extremely good on paper, but when you get into a relationship with them, there seems to be a reoccurring challenge: the fight for leadership.  Like the last woman I dated, she was a leader like myself, and often gave a brother props for being a powerful leader,  but when it came down to it, something inside of her would just not let go.  There always had to be a struggle, a confrontation, almost a battle for me to be who I was in the relationship, without her feeling some kind of way about me exerting the powerful leadership that she herself praised me to have.  To be clear, and clarity is my favorite word, I’m not talking about ego stroking or chest pounding, I’m speaking to an innate distrust, coupled with a feet planted mentality rooted in dysfunctional wisdom and nonproductive guidance.  In my opinion, this stems from the horrific ordeal of slavery and the unaddressed rippling effects that have infected our communities and relationships ever since.

It makes me think back to when I was at Cambridge College pursuing my master’s degree and took a class called “A Black Women’s Notebook.”  Being one of three men in a class packed to capacity, it was a learning, and extremely insightful, experience.  The course focused on women’s roles in society and how history has affected what we see in modern relationships.  Three  Black female PhDs taught the class, and one particular professor spoke about the backlash of Black women having been forced to step beyond their roles because a man wasn’t there.  She introduced to us the idea of nature versus nurture, which is the idea that who we naturally are can be altered by conditioning.  According to her, and I totally agree, women have had to be bread-winners, disciplinarians, protectors and basically head of households all over America, but especially in the Black community; which is the pool in which I fish…feel me?  This has trickled into the minds of young girls who watched mommy “hold everything down”  Once becoming women themselves, and thinking this responsibility is theirs too to secure, there begins the recycling of the “I don’t need no man” attitude, which significantly minimizing the role, power and impact of the man in the home and in the relationship.  Today, that same woman, who men like me often date, has an extremely difficult time falling back and allowing their men to resume his rightful place as, dare I say it, king.

I need a sister ready to put the work in to address, heal and re-educate ourselves.  Someone who is honest, and willing to identify the areas that need work, and address them; whether it be within me, or herself.  I am constantly working on me and I want a woman who has a similar approach to personal growth and development.  A woman who challenges the status quo and limiting ideas handed down to us from society.  A woman who believes that men and women are not the same, and is okay with that; not to appease me but because it’s true.  I believe in being a provider and a protector. I believe that our nature and physiological makeup are earmarks to how God wants us to be in this world.  Unfortunately, some may let their emotions supersede logic and perceive what I’m saying as sexist or chauvinistic, but the truth of the matter is, I’m just a real chivalrous type of brother, with a strong respect for culture and value, who absolutely loves Black women.  I raise the bar high not just for the one I’m with, but for myself first and foremost.  Isn’t that what we’re all supposed to do?  Just imagine, what a thriving people we can once again be, if we would live by the principle of constant elevation.

– Carlos

GENTLEMEN UNCENSORED

• Episode 1: Why Get Married?
• Sneak Peek: Gentlemen Uncensored 

MEET THE CAST

• Meet Chris Kazi Rolle
• Meet Anthony ‘Tmor’ Morris
• Meet Ainsley Burrows
• Meet Carlos Walton
• Meet DJ CEO
• Meet Harold Church 

Via Amazon.com

They were controversial as soon as they hit the market — the Django Unchained action figures caused debate over whether they were racist, inappropriate, and/or exploitive. Now the dolls have been banned from eBay, according to TMZ.

As we reported, many complained that the selling of these slave dolls, which were available on Amazon, is not only racially insensitive but also makes light of slavery. Following massive backlash from African-American advocacy groups, The Weinstein Company (which produced the film) discontinued the promotional figurines.

Ebay said via emails to sellers, “Since the manufacturer of this product has discontinued the item’s sale due to its potentially offensive nature, we are not allowing it to be sold on eBay,” reports TMZ. According to eBay, the dolls  were in violation of the company’s “Offensive Materials policy.” The dolls had been fetching as much as $300 apiece. According to Deadline Hollywood, the bidding for a complete set of the dolls had reached $1,000.

But all this controversy could have the opposite effect, making the doll even more collectible and expensive.

Are you opposed to the Django dolls?

Oscar-nominated Christoph Waltz and Jamie Foxx in “Django Unchained.” Rex Features via AP Images

Not only has there been controversy about the content and the excessive use of the N-word in the hit movie Django Unchained, there is new outrage by some over the Django action figures that recently went on sale. Some complain that the selling of slave dolls is not only racially insensitive but also “trivializes the horrors of slavery,” as the Huffington Post reports. The dolls are available on Amazon.com. (Pictured below.)

So far, the controversy seems to have served the film rather well. Although it came in second place this past weekend, topped by Texas Chainsaw 3-D, which debuted at number one earning $23 million, Django is proving to have strong box office appeal, especially with African-American moviegoers. As we reported last week, African Americans are going to see the movie in record numbers and may help make this Tarantino’s bestselling movie ever. And it has been a crossover success.

Thus far the film starring Jamie Foxx as a freed slave bent on revenge, has earned a total of $106.4 million since it was released on Christmas Day. And, according to EUR, the flick could easily top $200 million during it run in the States and Canada. Could all this discussion about what’s offensive backfire on the film’s current ticket surge? Or intrigue more people to go out and see the film?

We’re going to predict continued box office success since the film is now Oscar-nominated, named just this morning in the Best Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) and Best Picture categories (Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kerry Washington were shut out of acting noms, and Tarantino wasn’t nominated for Best Director).

Movies with Oscar nominations typically get a box office bump, as viewers flock to see the films that have may win the big prize before awards night (February 24). Django will certainly benefit from that, particularly as the conversation shifts from simply talk about the content of the movie to whether the Academy should recognize the movie despite that content.

Django is scheduled to end its showings in the States in a few weeks.

Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

From ESSENCE

Although opening night tickets for Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, Django Unchained, are selling out left and right, there’s one Hollywood filmmaker who doesn’t plan to see the film. In a recent interview with VIBETV, Spike Lee had very little to say about the film, which is a love story based in the days of slavery, and insisted he hadn’t seen it and wasn’t planning on it.

“All I’m going to say is that it’s disrespectful to my ancestors,” says Lee. “That’s just me…I’m not speaking on behalf of anybody else.” The Red Hook Summer director is known for his outspoken opinions, and for ruffling a few feathers with his own projects.

Check out the rest, including the interview, over on ESSENCE.

What do you think? Do you plan on seeing it?

Source: JustJared.com and the NewYorkTimes.com

No African American would be surprised to learn that he or she has white ancestors given the history of slave raping in this country. But most of us don’t get the chance to connect the dots and really learn who those ancestors were—or even their white descendants who are living today—but that’s what’s going on with a DNA project that has traced First Lady Michelle Obama’s relatives back to it’s interracial start in Northern Georgia.

The New York Times ran a story this weekend that uncovers Michelle Obama’s ancestry in a way that’s both unique and quite common for black people today. Here are the details in part:

The discovery of this unexpected family tie between the nation’s most prominent black woman and a white, silver-haired grandmother from the Atlanta suburbs underscores the entangled histories and racial intermingling that continue to bind countless American families more than 140 years after the Civil War.

The link was established through more than two years of research into Mrs. Obama’s roots, which included DNA tests of white and black relatives. Like many African-Americans, Mrs. Obama was aware that she had white ancestry, but knew little more.

Now, for the first time, the white forebears who have remained hidden in the first lady’s family tree can be identified. And her blood ties are not only to the dead. She has an entire constellation of white distant cousins who live in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas and beyond, who in turn are only now learning of their kinship to her….

The bloodlines of Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Tribble extend back to a 200-acre farm that was not far from here. One of their common ancestors was Henry Wells Shields, Mrs. Tribble’s great-great-grandfather. He was a farmer and a family man who grew cotton, Indian corn and sweet potatoes. He owned Mrs. Obama’s maternal great-great-great-grandmother, Melvinia Shields, who was about 8 years old when she arrived on his farm sometime around 1852.

The DNA tests and research indicate that one of his sons, Charles Marion Shields, is the likely father of Melvinia’s son Dolphus, who was born around 1860. Dolphus T. Shields [shown above] was the first lady’s maternal great-great-grandfather. His identity and that of his mother, Melvinia, were first reported in an article in The New York Times in 2009, which also indicated that he must have had a white father.

Melvinia was a teenager, perhaps around 15, when she gave birth to her biracial son. Charles was about 20.

In Clayton County, Ga., where the Shields family lived, only about a third of the heads of household owned human property, and masters typically labored alongside their slaves. Charles was a man of modest means — he would ultimately become a teacher — whose parents were only a generation or so removed from illiteracy.

Melvinia was not a privileged house slave like Sally. She was illiterate and no stranger to laboring in the fields.

What’s most interesting is the take one of the First Lady’s relatives has on this news. Citing the fact that Melvina bore several more biracial children, Aliene Shields, a descendant who lives in South Carolina, told the NYT:

“To me, it’s an obvious love story that was hard for the South to accept back then.”

That’s one sugar-coated way to look at it.

Michelle Obama and her mother and brother have declined to comment on the news, much like Melvina who is said to have never discussed what happened between her and Charles and the nature of their relationship. Some of the First Lady’s white ancestors, on the other hand, are struggling with the reality that their ancestor very likely raped Melvina, and possibly other women. They’re also hopeful for a chance to meet the FLOTUS one day, despite their touch connection. Joan Tribble,whose ancestors owned the first lady’s great-great-great-grandmother, told the Times:

“I can’t really change anything, but I can be open-minded to people and accept them and hope they’ll accept me.”

Check out a slideshow of Michelle Obama’s relatives and ancestors here.

What do you think about this connection?

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Source: Shadowandact.com

Adidas really ought to just be thankful they’re still a somewhat relevant sneaker brand, but of course they’ve taken their creative liberties a bit further than most would like with a new sneaker known as JS Roundhouse Mids.

The issue with the shoe is the shackles that are attached to the heel and expected to fit around one’s ankles. Adidas explains the design with this description on it’s Facebook page:

“Tighten up your style with the JS Roundhouse Mids, dropping in August. Got a sneaker game so hot you lock your kicks to your ankles?”

Clever idea, but perhaps poorly executed. Most observers are speaking out against the shackle adornment as an ode to slavery. Personally, I immediately thought of prison cuffs when I saw the sneaker (I think it was the orange color) but either way, neither inference is a good look. Dr Boyce Watkins wrote on Your Black World:

 “Shackles. The stuff that our ancestors wore for 400 years while experiencing the most horrific atrocities imaginable. Most of which were never documented in the history books and kept away from you in the educational system, all so you’d be willing to put shackles on your ankles today and not be so sensitive about it. There is always a group of negroes who are more than happy to resubmit themselves to slavery.”

He’s right but I think we have to be careful assuming an African American slave reference. For one, Africans were hardly the first or only group of slaves in this country or in the world, so this doesn’t have to necessarily be a “black thing.” On the other hand, African slavery is the most discussed form of captivity in the present day and if Adidas were so bold as to insert this subtle element of racism, it’s certainly not something that should go without being called out. Regarding the prison reference, I think far too many boys and men are already too comfortable with the idea of being arrested and cuffed and wearing a shoe that makes light of that or makes being shackled appear cool just isn’t a good idea. On the surface, it’s not grossly damaging but I think it has the potential to make teens, tweens, and even grown men somewhat desensitized to the reality of being cuffed and the system of racism that often lands them behind bars. To that point, Dr. Watkins added in his op-ed:

“I’m offended by these shoes as there is nothing funny about the prison industrial complex, which is the most genocidal thing to happen to the black family since slavery itself.”

I’ll be honest, this is the most I’ve ever thought about something as seemingly insignificant as a sneaker, but looking at this shoe I can’t help but think of buyers being slaves to consumerism as well. We know how men will set up camp outside of a shoe store for 24 hours at least to get a new pair of sneakers and how those purchases also lend themselves to robbery attempts and sometimes shootings over people simply wanting what someone else has. And though I have no data on this, I can say that the people I see sleeping outside of Foot Locker on 34th street or on the news after a big shoe release are typically black teens and I don’t like the obvious play on our boys being enslaved to this concept.

Truthfully, there really are a number of ways to interpret ths new sneaker design but I think the reality is that when it comes to the JS Roundhouse Mids, they’re hardly “just a shoe.”

What do you think about this design? Is there more to the shackles than Adidas is letting on or is it no big deal?

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An atheist billboard firing back at Pennsylvania lawmakers has angered black residents in the city due to its depiction of an African slave with a metal collar around his neck.

The billboard features a passage from the Bible saying, “Slaves, obey your masters,” as a jab toward state lawmakers who recently passed a bill announcing 2012 as the Year of the Bible. The lawmakers suggest residents renew their faith in and knowledge of God to help the nation through it’s struggles, and according to the American Atheist website:

“The message this billboard conveys is the House of Representatives should not be celebrating a barbaric and Bronze Age book. We do not in any way condone slavery, but the Bible does. We have outgrown such hideous actions toward humanity.”

The sign sits in the city’s most racially diverse section in the Allison Hill neighborhood, and has caused African American leaders pause, calling the group the anti-christs and praying for their salvation. State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Chester, who is also a Baptist pastor and one of the co-signers of Year of the Bible legislation, said this campaign will only backfire and support the Bible-believers cause further. “This is going to encourage people to read the Bible. My master is Jesus Christ. I’m a slave to Christianity. I’m a slave to Christ.”

Last night, the billboard was vandalized and replaced this morning by an unrelated ad, which prompted the president of Pa. Nonbelievers to issue a statement of apology. Brian Fields said:

“I want to say that I’m truly sorry that many people have misunderstood this billboard. It was never our intention to use ‘race’ as our message itself — The point of our billboard was: The bible is NOT holy or moral as promoted by the Pa. House of Representatives in the ‘Year of the Bible.’ The bible was used as an excuse for many very bad things, including American slavery.We would have hoped this message was clearer to observers. In any case, the point is currently moot.”

Do you find the billboard offensive? What about the declaration of 2012 as the Year of the Bible, does that violate the separation of church and state?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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If you hadn’t heard, PETA was trying to bring a lawsuit against SeaWorld, claiming that their treatment of the whales was similar to being held and treated as slaves. Yup, you read that right. Slaves. But why are we not surprised? This is not the first time PETA has done something outrageous and dare I say, random, to make their point.

Their defense was that the 13th amendment also covers animal rights. The same 13th Amendment that allowed for the ending of slavery in our country and for African Americans to be seen as people and not property.

Wyatt Cenac (remember him from Medicine for Melancholy?) mocked the lawsuit on last Wednesday night’s episode of The Daily Show in an interview with PETA’s Senior Vice President of Communications, Lisa Lange. You can tell throughout the interview, Lange was taking it seriously, even after Cenac bought up these questions:

“I mean, it’s not like you’re just exploiting the history of the enslavement of black people in this country for publicity, right?”

There was a pause by Lange, and she never really answered the question.

But civil rights activist, Elaine Brown, did, and she wasn’t having any of that. “It’s a cruel and racist joke. If there is animal cruelty than it needs to be checked, but animal cruelty does not rise to slavery.”

PETA filed the lawsuit on behalf of the five orcas at SeaWorld in the fall through the U.S. district in San Diego. They felt that the whales “were forcibly taken from their families and natural habitats, are held captive at SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld Orlando, denied everything that is natural to them, subjected to artificial insemination or sperm collection to breed performers for Defendants’ shows, and forced to perform, all for Defendants’ profit. As such, Plaintiffs are held in slavery and involuntary servitude.”

The lawsuit was thrown out on Feb. 8 by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Miller. As shown in the video, the PETA spokesperson still believes this was a landmark case and hopes this could be bring more cases to court. Delusional or passionate?  You can decide.

Animals are amazing creatures and should never be abused, but was this taking it too far? To compare trained killer whales in SeaWorld to slavery? Of course it was. To some, in fact, many animals are in better shape at zoos or parks, rather than out in the wild because they’re most likely to be killed by hunters and poachers. At least SeaWorld can give them a safe home and allow a great learning tool for children.

At the end of the day, can these organizations stop comparing everything to slavery? It diminishes and tries to make a mockery of what actually happened in history with foolish incidents like this. Not cool, not thought provoking. Just disrespectful.

*Opening photo by io9.com.

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