White Man's Burden

 

This is what I was trying to avoid. Earl gets mad at the Beautiful Man for honoring WMCS 1290’s station policy, spews hate-filled inanities on his show, opens the phone lines for a “Slam James T. Harris” soiree, and then...

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it....

Voila! It’s open season on conservatism, public discourse, and yes, James T. Harris.

But here's the rub: By berating a conservative brotha on black radio, look at whom Earl has given his nodding approval to join in the beat down! White liberals! And Earl’s “community” calls me a sell out?

Sigh.

Why? Is it because intellectual diversity is a scary thing? Is it because I actually think for myself and question the direction that this “community” is going? If that’s being an “Uncle Tom” – or whatever other ignorant, racist slurs they want to throw out – then pass the arugula and the duck confit because I’ll sell out every day of the week and twice on Sundays (which, by the way, is a fine day to eat duck confit while listening to the National Conversation on News Radio 620 WTMJ!).

Seriously, I feel like Michael Corleone in Godfather III: “Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.”

I’d like to not respond. I’d like to take the high road and just let these personal attacks roll off my back. But then some Euro-wannabe white* lefty has to go and write something like this:

“Harris is a black with an asterisk.”

OK, Mr. Jay Bullock and your junior reporter, Bert? Whatever… all liberal asterisks write the same…. right?

Jay, is it the prerogative of white men to assign value judgments in terms of whether minority men meet your standard of authenticity? That’s a lot of power you have, Exalted Leader. Do I get to put an asterisk next to your level of “whiteness,” Wizard Bullock?

Seriously. I’ve been “black” since the day I was born. I grew up in the city of Milwaukee and I have friends and family members throughout this great city who can more than vouch for my “blackness,” despite the illustrious wisdom of Uncle Jay & Company. I just hosted a “black” 30-year reunion celebration for the “black” church in which I was raised! Yeah, we had nearly thirty “black” people (most of whom would agree with your politics) in our “black” backyard celebrating our “black” friendships… fool!

And yet – as if stupidity and prejudice were twin babes that needed more suckling from the milk of Milwaukee’s Grand Wizard – Bullock’s surrogate continues:

“Harris also sounds like a phony black, trying a little too hard to speak the way suburbanites think blacks should sound, as in the quotation above when he throws out ‘that's just the way I roll’ or ‘my brother’ to a fellow black.”

Dear LORD! Is it 1950? Are we in Mississippi? Did I somehow get abducted from my home in Sherman Park’s Uptown Crossing, a predominantly “black” neighborhood, by the way… where I reside with my gorgeous, smoking hot “black” wife and my three brilliant and beautiful “black” children (though the Wizard might denounce the above as my phony black wife, phony black kids and phony neighborhood… he of infinite, all-knowing phony black wisdom)?

Seriously, my patience for this ridiculous liberal race dance has now run out. I’m black and conservative among many other things…

Get over it.

I don’t need any arrogant, liberal Euro-wannabe lefty or his surrogate telling me how to vote, think or talk. Earl and his “community” of listeners obviously do.

Dats why dey be Democrats!

Comments

[James T.]

"the civil rights movement puts a direct contradiction into the heart of conservatism."

The Civil Rights movement is the heart of conservatism! Seeing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and rev. Johns before him were Republicans and conservative you statement makes no scene unless that is you are suffering from Democrat Stockholm Syndrome...

Which my friend you are.

[Frank]

Hey John Foust, I think you can guess where I would suggest you implant those apostrophes. I don't profess to be an english scholar, nor do I pretend to be. I speak plainly here, and don't hesitate to point out what's wrong or right with issues and people that post here. Oh, and I don't think I need to point out, the man who's blog we're expressing ourselves on ain't white, although the words we type here do appear on a white background.

[derek]

"The Civil Rights movement is the heart of conservatism!"

In what way? In what way can you seriously articulate a conservative rationale for the workings of the civil rights act? Spouting off about republican this and conservative that (this is the same MLK that opposed vietnam and also sought an economic justice bill right?).

Face it, there is a duality there that you have to completely skip over to rationalize your beliefs. I mean, there WERE black conservatives prior to and during the civil rights movement. Their names aren't Martin Luther King or Vernon Johns though.

[John Foust]

Yes, I tried that one. I skipped around, heard all sorts of hootin' and hollerin', and didn't find any refudinications.

Do you come up with nicknames for all your visitors, or am I special?

[John Foust]

OK, I listened. A few questions, because I didn't hear much in the way of explanation. Why must you have a camera running when you appear on someone else's show? Is this a requirement? Sure, you "do a lot of Youtube stuff." What does your desire have to do with being a guest on someone else's show, in someone else's studio? You assumed you must be able to use someone else's show to promote your own? Once they said "no", which I assume would be their right, why did this supercede all other considerations about doing the show?

Next, why do Milwaukee's two (?) black radio personalities "need to stick together"? On what basis? There's no other Milwaukeans of African descent on the radio? Ever? Anywhere?

Finally, what's the significance of the raised fist as a pacifying symbol or a means of reducing conflict, as you stormed out? Wikipedia says "The raised fist (also known as the clenched fist) is a salute and logo most often used by left-wing activists, such as: Marxists, anarchists, socialists, communists, pacifists, trade unionists, and black nationalists. The raised fist is usually regarded as an expression of solidarity, strength or defiance. ... The black fist, also known as the Black Power fist is a logo generally associated with black nationalism and sometimes socialism. Its most widely-known usage is by the Black Panther Party in the 1960s."

[James T.]

John Foust's questions:

Why must you have a camera running when you appear on someone else's show? Is this a requirement?

Response:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwwPl9hXnOA

If the arrangement was OK the first time around, why not the second? Why did management change their policy? Why is it a problem that I honored their decision?

Question:

Why do Milwaukee's two (?) black radio personalities "need to stick together"? On what basis? There's no other Milwaukeans of African descent on the radio? Ever? Anywhere?

Response:

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/bb6875cff8/chappelle-show-daves-night-out-with-wayne-brady-from-uploaderguy

Ask Jay and Bert if you still don't get it.

Stupid question:

"What's the significance of the raised fist as a pacifying symbol or a means of reducing conflict, as you stormed out?"

Response:
Stormed out? Listen to the podcast again, John Foust. Where did you get "stormed out" from? I was in the studio when Earl's rant began. Hence my pleading with Earl for civility (There I go begging again!).

But to your stupid question..."What's the significance of the raised fist as a pacifying symbol or a means of reducing conflict..."

Wow. You really are a liberal...

I really don't feel comfortable explaining black culture to you because my black card was revoked many moons ago. Why are you even posing these questions to me*? Why not ask a real black person like Jay Bullock or his Boy Wonder, Bert. I see that you have gone to great lengths (Wikipedia) to find meaning, that's good. May I again suggest that you consult that great fount of black knowledge "Bert" for the answer to this complex question.

Sigh.

[John Foust]

Are you intentionally dancing around my questions? Because I'm not seeing answers. I expect a bit more than links to videos. Yes, I understand that they let you tape once before. Did something happen that might've caused them to change their policy? Who said "no" and why? If it wasn't a big deal, why wouldn't you let it slide?

You haven't explained to anyone why it was more important for you to tape than it would be for you to be a guest on that show as intended. At some point, you, the guest, drew a line: No camera, no show. If you left on those terms, yes, I'd call that "throwing a fit" or "making unreasonable demands" or "stormed out." You were upset that you couldn't get your way. Your host was no doubt dismayed at your rude behavior.

Yes, please tell me why a symbol most often associated with black nationalism was supposed to make it all better. I'd rather not filter it through Jay and Bert.

I'm a liberal? Who said? Oh, I didn't need Wikipedia to know about the raised fist. When I was hanging out with Eldridge, I remember talking more about Algeria and the fact that we wore the same size shoes.

Yeah, I watched Chappelle, too. (I was always much more a Boondocks fan.) Your point? Was it "black actors need to unify"? You think you should have some special affinity because of your ancestry that overrides your political differences?

[Giant]

JTH

Damn son! White Liberals made you go street (to quote Matty Drudge) on 'em. Like the Godfather reference. Next time drop a line from Nino Brown and "Cancel That (you know the rest)!"

If you really want to read some non-PC, racially charged comments... peep what people are saying about Ieshuh Griffin http://themilwaukeedrum.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/ieshuh-griffin-candidate-for-representative-to-the-assembly-10th-district/#comments. You have to love Americans keepin' it 100.

One

[Frank]

Where's Cookers?

[John Foust]

I'm new here. Whose cookers? Where's Cooker's what?

[Frank]

John. Why don't you sit back and chill for awhile and wait and see. You seem to have the patients and a demanding demeanor of a eight year old brat. CHILLLL.

[MaddyPie]

jon-jon, you are not new to us. We've seen the likes of you before. And after you bug out cause nobody wants to play your game, we will see the likes of you again.

Your modus operandi is to jump from Conservative Blog to Conservative Blog and try and rattle peoples cages.

Lets see you've been around 3 or 4 day, yep in a week you will be trolling some where else.

[N. Holton]

Hey James,

I don't often agree with your politics at the national level, but I love the contributions you make at the local level. Your voice is a needed one, whether I agree with a particular opinion of yours or not.

On this particular issue, I agree with you 100%. Black identity ought not be something that contains any political viewpoint or way of living, period. It's bad enough when there's the "acting white"/Uncle Tom thing from the black community. For white commentators to do it is at least as bad.

I wrote about the topic of the definition of black recently in an online publication, maybe you'll find it of interest.

http://words.lifeafterhate.org/2010/07/race-in-milwaukee-3/

Take care.

[Cookers]

Frank, thanks for the shout out. Life has been very busy.

To John Foust, the whole Shirley Sherrod fiasco should be explanation enough as to why James T. needs to document what he and others say druing their interactions. He has also recognized our society is visual - hence the trend toward the extensive use of video on this site. Besides, someone has to control the information and it might as well be James T.

And I checked out your Bootsandkittens deally. Based on the number of comments I saw, I could accuse you of trying to gin up a little attention of your own....

[MaddyPie]

jon-jon is definitely a member of the delusional libs.
Every morning he wakes up looks in the mirror and chants reassuringly
"It is all about me"
"It is all about me"
"It is all about me right?"

[Karl Hungus]

For a guy who made a name for himself bowing and begging a white politician, and who regularly calls Obama "The Chocolate Jesus" (low regard for the Lord or excessive praise for a president?), this little kerfuffle is ironic on many levels.

This little Cultural Blog War is nothing more than a vapid distraction from life's serious issues.

[James T.]

Huggy Bear! Where ya been?

Hey Cookers! Looks like we got a few more flies to swat. I must have said something conservative...

My bad!

Watch out for that "Johnny come lately"guy. He thinks he's Derek. Derek has earned his right to be hated in the National conversation.

Johnny is just a squirrel trying to get a nut.

[MaddyPie]

Ah, all members of the peanut gallery are rolling in.
Hey "karl's not hung" how's it hanging? Oops that was mean. I know that is a touchy subject for you!

Have you been sleeping under that moldy rock again? This isn't a "little culture war." The commie punk hussein and eric(little"e")holder have been gearing up and guiding this forward for 18 months.

karl's not hung, stop thinking(and worrying) about your little head and start trying to use that big thing with eye balls and ears. It is located on your shoulders.

No need to thank me. I love giving free advice!

[James T.]

Yes Maddypie, we're putting the band back together! Somebody go find Black in Miami and Johnny Inferno and DavidB and who else am I missing?

"We're putting the band back together... Da Band!"

I can't wait until Johnny come lately flips your switch! HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW!!!!

[Frank]

Hey "Karl Hungus". What do you care about "life's serious issue's". Your a f#@$ing nihilist.

[Frank]

Hey there Cookers. Good to hear from you.

[MaddyPie]

I've been playing with jon-jon on the easy side.
Don't want to scare him off before the real fun begins.

Seriously, it would be great to have all of the members of "Da Band" back together. It is just so hard for them to stick around and defend their views. It is always sad when they scamper off.
Oh and it was "Danny Inferno." He would be heartbroken to know you forgot his name. LOL

[John Foust]

I'm still waiting for James to explain why he needs a camera to do someone else's show. Why was their "no" a dealbreaker?

[Happenstance]

"I'm still waiting for James to explain why he needs a camera to do someone else's show. Why was their "no" a dealbreaker?"

Here is an answer:
Who gives a shit? Outside of you you and Earl, who really cares? With a recent example of a person taken out of context, I can only see bringing documentation as a positive.

Again who really cares? And what is with the Suh garbage you posted? Great to see a closet racist come out of the woodwork.

[MaddyPie]

LOL Happenstance, that was priceless.

well jon-jon I guess the fun has begun!