OK, so we are almost a full year out from the presidential elections -- That's not even the full deal as the Caucuses have not even begun happening yet. For those of you not used to the voting lexicon or the ritual of electing a new Fearless Leader to fight Moose and Squirrel, think of it as the first two minute warning at the end of the first quarter. We have not yet begun to piss each other off.

In the interim, I received in my mailbox an e-mail chain that I though was dead. It concerned Black people and the ridiculous idea that Congress is going to take away our right to vote. I'll let you read the e-mail and my subsequent response for yourself, but I will say this much in advance. The only thing keeping Black people from voting is ourselves. We can buy concert tickets, bootleg DVDs, and be knowledgeable about an entire cultural world that is NOT adequately reported on by the mainstream media, but we do not vote. Stop waiting on a great man, and become a leader yourself by registering. Incidentally if you are indeed in the mood to call your Congressmen, tell them to support the signing of the ADA Restoration Bill. It is part of some of the most comprehensive civil rights policy created in the past 20 years, and testament that the Black community still retains its relevance in civil rights policy through its support of the disability movement.

Anyways...here you go.

From: Carl
To: Angry Negro
Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:54 PM
Subject: FW: Camille Cosby..IMPORTANT!!! Do Not Delete!


From: Carl's misinformed colleage
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:54 PM
Subject: FW: Camille Cosby..IMPORTANT!!! Do Not Delete!


Hi All.

At the recent NAACP Meeting, President Bush finally met with the leaders and assured them that he would sign the right to vote bill for another 25 years.

My only concern is: Do the other race have to be subjected to a right to vote extension? Personally, the President, if he really wanted to show Good faith, should have abolished this bill and made it simply a right with no limitations. But then maybe I am living in a dream world. However, I know IT CAN BE DONE!! Voting Rights Act-Expires for blacks in 2007.

Below you will find a speech that Bill Cosby's wife gave at a function. Everyone please read this and pass it on to as many African Americans you come in contact with.

Camille Cosby just made a reference about the Voting Rights Act in her most recent open letter on racism. This is extremely important. We are in the 21st Century and we were wondering, and when I say 'we', I mean others of us out there who wonder if everyone else out there knows what the significance of the year 2007 is to Black America?

Did you know that our right to VOTE will expire in the year 2007?
Seriously! The Voters Rights Act signed in 1965 by Lyndon B. Johnson was just an ACT. It was not made a law.

In 1982, Ronald Reagan amended the Voters Rights Act for another 25 years. Which means that in the year 2007 we could lose the Right to vote!

Does anyone realize that African Americans are the only group of people who require PERMISSION under the United States Constitution to vote!

In the year 2007, Congress will once again convene to decide whether or not Blacks should retain the rights to vote (crazy but true).

In order for this to be passed, 38 states will have to approve an extension. This is ludicrous! Not only should the extension be approved, but also the ACT must be made a law.

Our right to vote should no longer be up for discussion, review and/or evaluation.

We must contact our Congress-persons, Senators, Alder persons, etc., to put a stop to this! As bona fide Citizens of the United States, we cannot "drop the ball" on this one! We have come too far to let government make us take such a huge step backward. So please, let us push forward to continue to build the momentum towards gaining equality.

Please pass this onto others, as we are sure that many more individuals are not aware of this. I urge all of you that are able, to contact those in government that have your vote and make them aware of our combined concern for this issue.

One voice!...... One Vote! You cannot complain, if you do not
participate.....local, State, & national.....

When I received this one I had no choice but to pass it on. Please do the same!


From: Angry Negro
To: Carl
Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:54 PM
Subject: Re: FW: Camille Cosby..IMPORTANT!!! Do Not Delete!

I opened one of my varied e-mail accounts to a message that I was not used to seeing in the subject line.

 "Fuck You NAACP"

It was straight and to the point – everything that the subject line should be, but considering the message was from a personal friend --  and one far from being racist  at that (There are racists with my e-mail address) --

I clicked the message and inside found the article from the Associated Press entitled "NAACP urges NFL to let Vick play again."

Apparently an NAACP leader said that after completing his sentence for dog fighting, Vick should be allowed to play professional football again. And excerpt from the article is below:

"As a society, we should aid in his rehabilitation and welcome a new Michael Vick back into the community without a permanent loss of his career in football," said R.L. White, president of the group's Atlanta chapter. "We further ask the NFL, Falcons, and the sponsors not to permanently ban Mr. Vick from his ability to bring hours of enjoyment to fans all over this country."

White said the Falcons quarterback made a mistake and should be allowed to prove he has learned from that mistake. On Monday, Vick said through a lawyer that he will plead guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture."

Now I am not going to be the hippie tree hugger that will compare the live of one human being to that of 50 dogs, nor do I believe that Vick should be destroyed once he has paid the price for his felony, but I do have an issue with the NAACP being an advocate of leniency in this case.

It seems to me like the NAACP has fallen prey to the Black man with a Ball syndrome. "But Angry Negro," you may ask, "what is Black man with a ball Syndrome?"

Black man with a Ball syndrome or Talentus Africanus is identical to Black man with a Microphone Syndrome or Black man in office syndrome ( Kells Africanus and nashuntimus africanus res.) in which Black people look the other way because a so called role model has blatantly messed up. The fact that I say, messed up is indicative of the way these mistakes are perceived, because no matter how bad the situation is, the person in question becomes "railroaded by society, or not given a fair chance, or overburdened by the system.

Now it goes totally without question that the Judicial system in this country has a long and intricate history of screwing over our Black men. It is also undebateable that Black men have received harsher penalties for their crimes that their white counterparts, but for the NAACP to openly advocate that Vick should receive a second chance is downright irresponsible. It is interesting that the spokesperson for the article is named White, because the leniency he is advocating smacks of how White society has let the Black community strive for mediocrity through negligence.

Considering the events that took place concerning the Rutgers basketball Team, I doubt there is anyone at the NAACP that wanted Don Imus back on the air – yet CBS Radio is about to give him a second chance. Now what Imus did was wrong – but no body and no thing died. Vick through his ignorance of his money and land use caused the deaths of over 50 animals AND he profited from it. Let's not forget that part.

So if one is to examine the outrage toward Don Imus, and then the sentiment toward Michael Vick, one could assume that the NAACP says because of the system of our country it's OK for Back celebrities to break the law. The Black community is in need of good positive role models, but it is almost as if there is a bit of reverse racism happening here – we have begun judging ourselves by a lesser standard in the hope that it will keep those role models on top. That is NOT the NAACP I or my parents or my grandparents were a part of, and that is not the organization that worked so hard for our people. The organization that I would like to remember would have chastised Michael Vick, and indeed felt embarrassment for our people. The organization I would like to remember would have offered leadership to youth and explained why Vick's frivolous and irresponsible use of money led to this downfall -- making this a learning lesson.

You know where the NAACP Really lost their way? It happened when they stopped chastising people. There was a time when if you were black and did something that set our people back representatives from the NAACP would come to your house, drag you out into the street in your underwear, throw your food on the floor, make you drink dirty dishwater, and slap your momma.. It didn't matter who you were…

Now the bar has been significantly lowered. And the NAACP is willing to go out on a limb for you no matter what you have done wrong as long as you are Black and on TV. I am sick of this level of ignorance and racism that we descry in others in this country but feel justified in placing on ourselves. As long as our leaders continue to coddle the Michael Vicks, and R. Kellys we will in no way have good role models. They will all have that tragic flaw of not bearing the responsibility for their own actions.  In the end it is to decision of the NFL to determine if Vick will work again, but if he does not play – it is not the end of the world or his life. There is more to offer than carrying a Ball for black people.

Until that becomes the path for the NAACP they will not be my leaders or the voice of my people. Fuck you NAACP, indeed.

So…as I am still a bit taken aback by the events of last night, I'll endeavor to keep this entry short – limiting it only to the more salient points. Last night. I met The MAN! I don't mean The Man – as in the [White] Man that is responsible for brining down the party and oppressing everyone that is not him, I mean the MAN as in the Man of the Hour of the year of the decade. Last night I managed to cross paths with Number 42 the Most Honorable William Jefferson Clinton.

 
There are certain people in the world that have a power about them. These people seem to exhibit an almost tangible field of energy that surrounds them and affects all people who come in contact wit them. Most of them are in positions to bend many of those others to their will, and for the weak minded, cause total and abject devotion. In the instances where people of this power have no viable outlet, these men become pimps. Let's be real that power to subvert the weak to your cause often ends in the exploitation of the weak, and our Nation in particular has a history of cultural, physical and political prostitution. This is not to insinuate that President Clinton has whored out the American People for his benefit. There are many in other industries that manifest that same power and have used it for creation as well. There have been stories that have circulated about many historical figures including Prince, Cleopatra, Michael Jackson (in his day to be sure), Rick James Liberace, and even Ann Boleyn. In each of these cases the sway that these figures held was not always connected (and NEVER exclusively connected) to physical attractiveness or sexuality alone. In any case the past President certainly is a member of that fraternity – he's got the Glow.

The power of Bill Clinton was made more evident by those who were present at this function – partially to act as a foil to him, but also showing who will show up when Clinton is planning on being in the room.  In addition to #42, the dais received Ernie Jones of the Little Rock Nine, Dr. Dorothy Height, Senator Bob Dole, and Dr. John Hope Franklin.

Let's take a pause and review those last three names:
 
Dorothy Height
John Home Franklin
Senator Bob Dole

Not to discount the legacy of any President, but were are talking about a pantheon of cultural and political icons that were rendered to all but stage dressing once the man entered the room. I was able to push aside (or take part in) the line of dilettantes and fan-boys and manage to meet the man for a brief moment – and that was a trial that took almost 20 minutes. I was able to walk right up to Dr. Franklin and even had a chance to hare a few words with him as well, but though he had a glow it was not as strong as Clinton's. (Te Be fair Dr. Franklin is 85 years old – I doubt that he's done any glowing fro almost 25 years now.) When Mr. Clinton's detail walked into the room there was a perceptible change in the energy of the meeting. I can only liken it to a herd mentality in which the group senses danger or an imminent move. From the time in which he entered the room to the time he left there was only one focus of attention – whatever he said and did. Those whom shook his hand felt as if he'd been waiting just to see them, and those to whom he spoke seemed as if they were greeting an old friend. These things have been said before, but if you were in doubt I'm here to tell you brothers and sisters. It's real. REALLY real.

Some people call it charisma, but we all know what it is. Sure I'm impressed by all of the things that Clinton has accomplished, and yet, as a man there are some things that no matter how old or learned I become a part of me – as in all men -- will still hold a certain level of respect. Game Recognize Game. One of my co-workers reminded me that  I got a nice warm handshake from a man who's hand has seen more tail than an air traffic controller.  Other than just being the President, a Rhode Scholar, musician, ambassador, and educator he is without a doubt. Pimp of the Year.

The War Prayer

It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and sputtering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spreads of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory which stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country and invoked the God of Battles, beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpouring of fervid eloquence which moved every listener.

It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety's sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way.

Sunday morning came-next day the battalions would leave for the front; the church was filled; the volunteers were there, their faces alight with material dreams-visions of a stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender!-then home from the war, bronzed heros, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag or, failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation -- "God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest, Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!"

Then came the "long" prayer. None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading and moving and beautiful language. The burden of its supplication was that an ever--merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset; help them to crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory -

An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following him and wondering, he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher's side and stood there, waiting.

With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence, continued his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words, uttered in fervent appeal,"Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord our God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!"

The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside -- which the startled minister did -- and took his place. During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn eyes in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said

"I come from the Throne-bearing a message from Almighty God!" The words smote the house with a shock; if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention. "He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd and grant it if such shall be your desire after I, His messenger, shall have explained to you its import-that is to say, its full import. For it is like unto many of the prayers of men, in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of-except he pause and think.

"God's servant and yours has prayed his prayer. Has he paused and taken thought? Is it one prayer? No, it is two- one uttered, the other not. Both have reached the ear of His Who hearth all supplications, the spoken and the unspoken. Ponder this-keep it in mind. If you beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon a neighbor at the same time. If you pray for the blessing of rain upon your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse upon some neighbor's crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it.

"You have heard your servant's prayer-the uttered part of it. I am commissioned by God to put into words the other part of it-that part which the pastor, and also you in your hearts, fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard these words: 'Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!' That is sufficient. The whole of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory-must follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God the Father fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen!

"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle-be Thou near them! With them, in spirit, we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it-for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.

(After a pause)

"Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits."

It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.

-Mark Twain (1904)

Fanfare for the Common President

America is gearing up for yet another presidential election, and as this is going on, the debate over a Black or Woman President has become a ubiquitous part of our current culture. Discussions of whether America is ready for a Black President after years of disenfranchisement, or if a Woman is the answer for fresh perspective, and proof positive that the sexes are equal in ability. As each side becomes more and more heated, the shouts for Obama or Clinton become more imposing with hate advertisements (such as the YouTube 1984 incident) appearing before a Primary has even taken place. The Republicans seem almost silent on the issue with the exception of the rumor mill offering John McCain – America's most respected Republican and Rudy Giuliani – America's Mayor – as possible candidates. Since we have not hit the Primary yet, the Parties will spend most of their time sniping at each other (rather than coalition building) until the votes go out and come in. As I mentioned before, the Dems are focused on Clinton or Obama, but if there is any one person they should both fear it is John Edwards.

Before I continue I should make a concession. I am from the South and I grew up in South Carolina no more than 2 hours away from Edwards's estate in North Carolina. I use the word estate to remind us that Edwards is indeed a wealthy Southern lawyer who has made a significant name for himself in addition to the accolades acquired by his wife and her respective family. A shrewd politician and an excellent speaker (he speaks so well) Edwards has managed to channel his Southern charm into his political career. In a time where a Southern heritage may be seen as oafish or backward Edwards has created an excellent image of a forward thinker and an understanding of the political process, and not to be confused with the former Governor of Arkansas, Edwards has ensured that his image is associated with strong family ties and values. In short, he is an excellent candidate and like Clinton (and unlike Obama) is also experienced in running for President.

In South Carolina, I grew up with and met many men like John Edwards. They were very likable and their Southern sensibilities caused you to align them with the common man. What we must remember is that John Edwards – much like all of our candidates for President is indeed NOT the common man – in fact there is little "common" about him.

Edwards, in fact is a man whom most would describe as exceptional. Edwards has earned a B.A. from North Carolina State University in 1974; and a J.D. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1977. Following an extremely successful career as a trial lawyer; attorney and partner with Edwards & Kirby in Raleigh, N.C.; he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998 and served from January 3, 1999, to January 3, 2005 -- all before John F. Kerry's sidekick for a Presidential bid in 2004. Elizabeth Edwards – wife of the Common Man -- lists a similar bio with accolades equal to that of her husband. Also a graduate of law school, Elizabeth Edwards maintains an accomplished legal career in addition to clerking for U.S. District Court Judge Calvitt Clarke, Jr, and the North Carolina Attorney General's Office. On their respective bios, the Edwards list their jobs as a textile mill worker and a book room volunteer, but to assume that this outweighs their years of achievement would be ridiculous. The Edwards are distinctive, out of the ordinary folks, who have reaped the benefits of their years of service, hard work, and high accolades. They have become noted experts in their fields, and sustained significant wealth for doing so. Like the Clintons, the Edwards are not just unique as individuals, but by being together they become a political power couple placing them in a whole other class all together.

Come primary time, there is going to be a lot of talk about exceptional people. A lot of this will include extensive debate on not only who represents their respective background, but from that background who best represents the American people. As I mentioned before Obama will be set to represent America's future and its past not only representing the disenfranchised Black population of America, but also America's new identity as a multi-racial state. In turn Clinton will be offering a similar message of the power of the individual and the idea that ability is not associated with gender. I think that most Americans like these ideas, and enjoy the concept of living in a place where the election of a woman or a Black man to Presidential office is a possibility. In the end, however I think that America will instead stick to it's history – do what it has always done – and elect anther White man as President.

We must not forget that we do indeed live in Whitemanistan, and that image and ability do not always equal the better Presidential candidate. We can quickly refer to our last election. Kerry did not fail to win because of a lack of credentials. He failed because of an inability to motivate an overwhelming majority of American voters. Kerry was exceptional. He is a veteran of politics and our military, and had all of the requisite passion knowledge and ability necessary to hold office. His downfall, however was that in addition to being all of these things, he also exuded all of these things. He was the total image of upper crust upbringing and the wealthy successful public servant. George Bush, on the other hand is no less connected or wealthy than Kerry, but prefers to create the image of a good old boy, a modern cowboy attempting to wrangle to political plain and do the best he can.

We know from experience that America loves this image. In the lore of our pop culture – movies books and television our heroes are not thought of as the best equipped -- or at times even the smartest. They are just people who somehow "made it through." . Even in cases where our heroes have endured tears of training education and preparation that training is brushed aside and we are to focus on some other struggle. America thrives on the triumphs of Jack Ryan, Maverick, and Indiana Jones imagining them as average guys who get the job done. What we fail to remember s that each of those "average guys holds at lest two graduate degrees to their names.

Half of America's population is women, and over 41% are Black or mixed race but for the American Presidency, John Edwards is "the common man." When Clinton and Obama find themselves really scrapping it out in the political ring, America will take part with their status as exceptional people. America will not be attracted to the "first" Presidents. The possibility of them pushing some sort of "political agenda based n their "first" will be too great for the average American to bear. Instead – as they always have – America will turn its eyes to what ii perceives as "the common man." The man who just gets by. This time, that man will be John Edwards. Though no less exceptional that the other two Democratic candidates Edwards will seem the "more approachable," more "realistic" choice that will motivate the "common" America – and though the Edwards have chosen not to make Elizabeth Edwards cancer a part of their political campaign (and rightfully so) for the American people it will still serve as a clarion call to send John Edwards – and average guy to office. If they truly wish to win Obama, and Clinton especially may have to find out how "common" they can be.

Angry Negro is a transplanted Southerner who supports Washington D.C. having a voting Delegate in the House of Representatives.

The seasons they are a changing, and ultimately the winter of our discontent will finally blow away and be replaced by perfumed flowers, budding blossoms, and a parade of women with less clothes than they wear from September to February. If you live in the DC metropolitan area, however, the growing sense of trepidation and the groundswell of nausea a in your stomach is not just related to the fact that you know a cold snap (basically winter in May, June or April) is on the way. Warm weather in the district means one thing: tourists. It begins with the hint of spring and the Cherry Blossom Festival, and doesn't end until almost Thanksgiving. These are the golden summer months in which the fashion nightmare compounded with the influx of tourists makes the District of Columbia the MOST unfashionable city in the world. OK Perhaps not the world – I mean I've never been to Duluth or Sapporo so I guess there is a chance that there could be someplace worse. Taken in comparison with other major cities, Washington, DC definitely is at the bottom of the barrel. In the summer we tip the barrel over. We haven't gotten past our first two days of real warm weather and I have already had to bear witness to some travesties that made me question what I had seen By the time we are into full summer swing, I'm sure we'll see tourists that make David Arquette look like Fanola Hughes.

But I digress….

It is the middle of March, spring is still daisy-fresh, and barely noticeable, and tomorrow if that grand olde occasion of Saint Patrick's Day. Those of you who know me I like Saint Patrick's for obvious reasons. Though at times I'm not always happy with the events we have associated with the holiday. Most would say that it's not even a real holiday and would relegate it to an invention of Hallmark and other capitalists to sell goods to the common man, but to be fair Saint Pat' s is the evolution of the cultural history of mankind itself. In every culture – normally around the springtime there is a holiday, festival or celebration to either wish farewell to winter, or to welcome spring. All of these occasions involve parties, bright colored festive dress, and a fair amount of revelry that due to the extreme cold – had been absent for those last ultra frigid months of winter. Feasts take place in the period from about the time of Saint Patrick's Day all the way into mid to late April to commemorate the end of winter and the oncoming spring continue. It is no mere coincidence that Saint Patrick's Day, Easter, and Spring Break are so close together. Though this does not excuse some of the behavior that we are sure to bear witness to this St. Pat's Weekend it at least in some way explains it.

Personally I have no problem with food, drink and revelry, and though I am sure that the streets of Adams-Morgan and Georgetown will be packed to the brim with sorostitutes and woo-boys acting alike drunken asses, I am not the type to shut down the party. Everyone should have the opportunity to have a good time. If there is anyone I feel bad for, however, it's the Irish. Why is it that in America we seem to believe that getting drunk and acting like a jackass is a function of another culture and not our own?

I am not a well-traveled person. I have been to a few places in the world, but not as many as others that I know. I like to considerer myself a student of culture, but I carry no degrees or credentials that identify me as such. This being said my next words can be offered as much in question to those who may know the answer as condemnation for our national behavior. As I mentioned most places around the world have a time for revelry – a call back to the true Dionysian ritual of imbibing and penetrating as much as possible. Is it only in the States, however where we have to blame our behavior on an immigrant group? Why can't American's drink just because it's a fun thing to do? I know we were founded by the Puritans, but even they had fun. Can't drinking be American? It's interesting that our big ritual drinking times (other than the New Year) are based on her ethnic groups. We make ourselves Irish on Saint Patrick's Day, Mexican on Cinco de Mayo, and Creole for Mardi Gras. For Spring Break the best parties are had in other parts of the world, where we take on the "local" flair to rink ourselves into oblivion. Evisa, Cancun, Jamaica, et al all become chock full of new citizens so that being a drunken lout isn't seen as a facet of our culture in the States. The hilarity of it all is that in the attempt to keep drunken debauchery out of the cultural mainstay, we have in fact solidified that image to the rest of the world. In addition to the stigma of having a drunkard mouth breather as a president, young Americans abroad have the mark of being culturally insensitive destructive and care to do nothing more but have a party, make a mess and leave. We are the drunken white hats of the world. It is rare that you hear about the group of students from Tanzania wreaking havoc on the economy, or the Spring Breakers from Taiwan being asked to not come back, but the Americans get that in spades. The joke is continued further in that the place we regard as being the breeding grounds of all of our avarice do not have the same stigma as we do. The French, Brazilians, and the Italians (responsible for getting us drunk) are viewed as those who enjoy life. Thailand, and Most of Asia is viewed as "exotic," and the Dutch are known for being "open-minded." For all of our Puritanical driven repressive behavior the world still sees us as drunken louts.

In any case I don't think we should be concerned. The real issue is that it is not another culture or holiday that makes people get drunk and act like clowns; it's just fun to do! Americans just have a harder time accepting that fact. There are too many people in this country just not living, and sad as it is to say, these periods where they think they can blame it on another culture may be the only moment of liberation those bottom feeders with their mob mentality may get. Those holidays are singular moments in time in which they could excusably do anything they wanted. Too bad they waste it on following the crowd. Rather than all of the news stories in Spring Break about the dangers of drinking (not limited to beer goggles, sex with brown men, and the potential of being sold into White Slavery) I say shout it from the roof tops. America: Coming to your town – and we're coming Drunk! Maybe then we could build a country where if someone wants to get drink, own a firearm, and have sex with their priest it could be done in relative acceptance and safety without the involvement of unconsenting minors or Pied Piper-like Trickery. For all of you going out this Saint; Patrick's Day I suggest you get drunk. If you can't get drunk do what you can. If you indeed can get trashed use this as an opportunity to broaden you mind. Have sex with someone from a different religion or ethnic group – if possible at the same time. If you can do it while simultaneously drinking smoking and yelling they you have reached enlightenment. Now is the time people!

In any case….

…Happy St. Patrick's Day

Angry Negro is a fan of all things Irish including Green Beer, Thin Lizzy, Kathy Ireland, and his Girlfriend

It's Black History Month again – or as I heard John McLaughlin call it, African-American History Month 2007. A lot has transpired over the past year that we could add to the Diaspora. There have been achievements in education, entertainment, and ultimately as time passes in the People – Our People themselves. Personally, I always approach February with a bit of trepidation and in truth a little reluctance.

What bothers me does not have to do with Black people or our History, but like most things that make me upset is framed instead by our American ideal of political correctness. February is the month of the year I have to hear more White people than usual stumble over Black and African-American. I personally am not a fan of African American and encourage White people to use Black, as a term for me and my people for several reasons. African American was created as a moniker for our people near the end of the big push from the Civil Rights Movement. This is a post Martin Post Malcolm term – more the racial dénouement of the 70s and early 80s. It was created in order to establish a cultural heritage for Black people that was separate from the history of slavery. This concept of redefining one's past is also used by Marcus Garvey in the Back to Africa Movements, as well as the iterations of the nation of Islam. The concept is tat if one exists in a culture/society that is unhealthy, then the only means for that person (or people) to evolve in a healthy fashion is to find their basis in cultural ideals outside of the one in which they currently exist. Rather than just being the sons and daughters of slaves. We were reminding ourselves as a people that we are descended from Africans – from a culture previous to the one we knew in the Peculiar Institution of the United States.

 

In 2007, however, it is more important to be Black than to be African American. In the time of the 60s and the movement as it was happening I'd say that this was important. It was definitely when we needed to be African American, because on the whole the White people only saw saves – and we ourselves only saw slaves. The 60s Movement, however is held in such a high regard in the culture of Black people – and in America's definition of Black People -- that we no longer tend to find our basis and strength from the shores of a continent we never knew, but instead from the strength of the Black People that lived here no more than one to three generations before us. Those generations from Crispus Attucks to Ella Baker to Ralph Abernathy walking in a widening path that even still includes Alan Keyes have been the basis of inspiration and culture for the past 400 years – and while on these shores they were rarely African.

The use of African American is also yet another method that insinuates that though Black people have been a part of this country's heritage and history since its inception they are still not regarded as a part of it. To illustrate this, I have to quote the bard and poet KRS-One.

"White man is European and Black Man is African

White Man never says Euro-American so why should the Black Man say Afro-American?"

In his book Yellow, Frank Wu calls this (in regard to Asians in the U.S.) "perpetual foreigner syndrome." Which is to say the suffix that has been placed upon Blacks, Asians, Arabs, and basically anyone who comes to the states in a legal fashion is a qualifier of who the real Americans are. The REAL Americans are the ones who don't have to have American at the end of their descriptors – namely White People. No matter how long you live here, as long as you have that American Description you are really a foreigner and don't belong.

 

Lastly, African American is just too comfortable. It's too easy to roll of the tongue and lets people feel far too comfortable about who we are. First, African-American lets White people off a little to easily. It seems a weak concession for a continued period of injustice and oppression that indeed has not totally come to an end. "You know Isaiah I know we screwed you on that promotion thing but at least you have our African American Heritage to fall back on!" Secondly, with the over definition of or people, African American has become the connotation of the Business and professional communities. Thus relegating an almost informal caste system of terms on Black people (much like the Slavery Heritage). At work or in the company of Condoleezza Rice, I am African-American. At the Metro on the way to work, I'm Black, and on the weekends; when watching UPN or being pulled over by the cops; I'm just "a nigger in a coupe." Though this is not its original purpose this is the sort of connotation that has been placed upon the current descriptors for our People.

Though I prefer to be Black rather than African-American, the term is good in that I illustrate the capacity of Black people to continuously re-define themselves with the times. This is not a capacity that all of us practice, but it is indeed there. The move from Colored to Negro and further from Black to African American has progressed from what we are called to what we call ourselves. So since we have the power of self-determination – which has been the root of our Movement – I choose to be Black. For the Month of February 2007 I encourage you to take up this banner with me – not to be Black or African-American, but to define what you wish to be on your own terms. It is this that gives us strength – all else is semantics.

Angry Negro is a graduate of Howard University and a genuine descendant of the Motissa Tribe.