Clearly I'm not that focused today...

Dear Co-Workers,

If any of y'all happen to read this, and check the time stamp I'm sorry. It's Monday, and I'm just not feeling this whole work thing. I'm working on my memo though honest. This whole becoming a social networking expert concept just keeps getting me sidetracked. Please don't fire me.

Yours,
Sam

Alright, now that that's out of the way- just a quick update on my earlier nag- interesting perspective from Professor MAN. (If I knew how to do that thing where you start someone's post and then it finishes on their blog, I would. But, as you can see, I don't. So click it yourselves please and thanks! )

It is indeed quite possible that all of this was staged. That would have been genius marketing on MTV's part, though I hesitate to give them that much credit.
I do however, believe that cultural scripts were definitely followed. The usual folks denounced Kanye, and the usuals stuck up for him, Ms. Swift got to look aghast at the Black bogeyman, and I am quite sure many more "urban" folks are aware of her presence than previously. Gotta say though, if it was staged I think Beyonce got the best deal of the bunch. Nice way to make up for any lingering doubts about her divadom to those who remember Destiny's Child's many personnel changes and her much gossiped about role in that. I drank her Kool-aid long ago, but I saw at least one facebook status of a new convert after last night...

Okay, exiting pop culture to focus on saving the world. Gotta get something done today if I want to keep riding my non-profit high horse!

Almost Forgot!

Well, not really, but thought I'd add it separately in the interest of brevity:

Nags: Ummmm, I dunno. I'm feeling pretty good today. Just for the sake of putting one out there, I suppose I'll mention the shenanigans of my people that seemed to dominate the weekend. Now let it be known that I'm so over the whole "you just set us ALL back 100 years" (why is it always a whoooole century btw?!). And I think we're past the age where one of us represents everyone, assuming you're not in a classroom at Duke (a digression I'll avoid). But, let's just be honest, there are stereotypes about us acting a fool, and I do think it's nice when we keep it classy- ie not scaring tennis refs or damaging teenage girls.

I'm not saying I don't agree on some level, but that was CLEARLY not the time or place. Dude really made it more about himself than either woman, and that's a shame. And I've heard it compared to his comments on George Bush, but I think it's not the same, because while George could have done more than fly over New Orleans, poor Taylor didn't award herself a moon man. She was just doin' her.

Apparently she's apologized now. Good job, though I thought she would anyway. I mean, again, it was not okay, but I like to think she just got caught up in the emotion of the game. At least it's not habitual for her to say crazy stuff in public.





Brags: While we're talking about famous Black folk, Beyonce was so classy. I'm glad she righted her friend's wrong. 
On a personal note: Like I said, today is a good day. It's been a productive lunch hour, what with 2 updates and whatnot, and now I'm gonna get back to writing a memo for my new intern! (Well, she's not just mine, but I'm excited anyway!) Also, I am wearing a skirt I haven't fit since freshman year of college. That's pretty great too.

Well folks, like I said, gonna get back to work now. Laters!

Falling off the Wagon

I am most definitely slacking on these adventures. In my defense however, I had two friend dates, both of which could be seen as adventurous.

Eating Mexican food in Chinatown, it has been alleged, could truly have put my tummy in peril (all was well, thank goodness). That episode on Thursday was supposed to be an adventure, as I had plans to ask someone who appeared to have been in Chinatown when it actually was Chinatown about the area's history. Now, this could have been really fascinating, as I like random interviews, but I felt a little racist. I mean, I'll admit that I can't tell country of origin by sight, and what if the person I'd approached wasn't Chinese? Major faux pas. Or, what if a shopkeeper was just as new to the area as Urban Outfitters. I refuse to be one of those people who thinks they're all liberal and aware and PC, but then fails epically. So, rather than sounding like the kid who's "best friend is black! HONEST!", I skipped it, and ate my Chipotle.

I diiiid do some google research though. Apparently Chinatown was more of a Germantown until the 1930's, and hasn't been "authentically" Chinese since about the 80's. The city actually built the famous bridge more to commemorate what was once there rather than what is.

It's actually pretty sad to me, and yet another comment on gentrification in the District (I haven't made any on this blog to my remembrance, but it's a ponderance of mine in real life). Basically there isn't much of old Chinatown left (we looked, and so did this great photojournal). Apparently both Chocolate City and Chinatown suffer from urban renewal. Who knew?
So that I'll count as half an adventure, since I didn't totally follow through, but learned something anyway.


I also went out on Friday, and didn't get home until after midnight! I know what you're thinking "Whoooaa! Party animal!" It could be construed as an adventure, since I didn't know most of the people, and don't usually stay out that late anymore.

So together, I'll count it as 1 adventure total last week, which works since I still need to make sushi. I'll find a way to work in three this week and stay on track. Go team!

Still Black in America...

So a lot has been happening in "Black America" of late (in quotes for those who are ready to get all up in arms about how there is only one America). Chris Brown apologized, Soledad had another special about "us", and President Obama went off message and called the police stupid. And, of course, the vultures continue to feed off Michael. Below, I've written a few letters to a few folks whose addresses I don't own. Because, of course, someone they are out there waiting for my opinion. (Sarcasm.) And because I really like letters. (Sincerity.)

***

Dear public who did actually witness Chriannagate,
Let us all continue to be careful. Let's guard ourselves not to blame the victim when she does not take up the causes we feel she should, and let's avoid judging the sincerity of a young man trapped in a cycle of violence. Let's give them space to be young humans, who make (sometimes heinous, sometimes seemingly inexplicable) mistakes. Let's continue to try and keep our jokes tasteful and hold back our condemnation. And let's hope they both get the help they need.

***

Dear White America,
Please don't think you can learn all you need to know about Black folks from a CNN special. Please don't think that most Black folks even watch CNN with any regularity.
Please don't ask a Black person about the statistics you saw in Black in America unless your interest is sincere and sustainable.
Please don't make some inane comment about how we shouldn't even have shows like this, because we shouldn't see the color that I most definitely wear every day.
Please don't feel guilty for your priviledge, especially if your guilt is idle.
There's much more I could say to you, but I'm moving on now, because I'm too busy being a productive black woman to dwell on this.

***

Dear Media,
Stop calling it an ever-loving Beer Summit. You are distracting from more important things, and making yourselves look silly. Do not minimize the reality of racial profiling by trivializing what happens daily to minorities and focusing on what the president drinks. And, just because the role race played in this particular case may have overemphasized, do NOT discredit the reality of it. And of all the things Obama said in that press conference, THIS is what you highlighted in your notes?
Stop.it.

***

Dear Jackson family,
In case we forget to say so, we as Michael's fans really are terribly sorry for your loss. Forgive us if we get caught up and gawk. We just remain in shock and awe at the life we witnessed that has now been extinguished. Take care of the young ones, and heal yourselves, and, if you have time, reign Joe in.
Thanks.

***

Well, that's quite enough on that from me. There is, obviously, much more to be expounded upon with each of these, but I think most of it has been said by now.

Re: Don't Be Sad There's Chocolate in the Room

To understand the impetus for this post, read my friend Tim's blog. Furthermore, please remember that Tim is actually a favorite of mine on the trip, and has excellent manners (see "Home Training" for the relevance of that). Take all of this as an attempt to explicate my opinions, not an attack on Timmy Neutron.

Feel free to skip to the end for the summary.

This DukeEngage experience is the first time I've spent concentrated personal time with a group of people who have the Caucasian persuasion... Contrary to the beliefs of my grade school peers, I've spent most of my life around black people (at least my personal time... school and work are a very different story). After I left private school in second grade, I never had a close white friend until college, and even still, my "favorite white girl" and I don't spend the majority of our time together. I have had romantic feelings for a white guy, but race was actually a pretty big sticking point with us, and the source of much frustration for me.
I say all this to bring me to why I feel Tim and I disagree on this subject. I think Tim can view "black culture" as an environmental product because he, as he has said, never had to deal with race until college, and even now, does not really have to ponder it on a daily basis. Furthermore, from my studies and observations, few white people even believe there is such a thing as white culture. Secretly, it's called mainstream America.

So, on the day that spawned the quote and conversation Tim reference's

"I just want to be a girl today, not a black girl, just a girl..."

we had spent a lot of group time together. I had watched Shantel (a bi-racial girl on our program who identifies as black) be photographed while stepping, listened to a rant about how Bojangles chicken was racist, and gone on a haunted and vampire tour.
(Hey, here's the post I promised about that! Small victory!) We had a very Southern sounding white middle aged tour guide pointing out what I swear was every former slave quarters in the French quarter. Apparently they have slate counter tops and floors now, with thick walls so that no one hears your music, or when you beat your slaves... Whichever. She also told us about balls held where white slave holders could meet and buy pretty quadroons to take as mistresses, and the tour ended with a more graphic and sensational telling of the story of the LaLaurie house. Although it may be a case of yellow journalism and completely overhyped, capping off the tour with a tale of horrific cruelty to slaves, and the inability of the spirits of my possible ancestors to settle after a century was really just too much for me.
So, yes, I was tired of being a black girl. I needed a breather, and wanted to dance, and from my experience, (Tim and the aforementioned favorite white girl being exceptions), most white people don't dance when they go out. I don't feel at all misquoted.


But, Tim and I differ very starkly in our views of race, and I think his blog itself actually proves my point. Tim says:

Culture as I think of it is like a collective past; memories, traditions and beliefs that influence and shape the next generation.

Although I understand the efforts to invoke our shared American past, I think we can all see that Black Americans have experienced this history differently. Significantly affecting the black experience has been slavery, and though most white people were not slaveholders, the necessity of dehumanizing those of African descent in order to continue barbaric practices for financial gain has left a legacy that I don't believe can be denied. Centuries of oppression created differing memories, traditions and beliefs. Furthermore, because of the differing ancestries and continued separation of the race, some of the more concrete hallmarks of culture- food, storytelling traditions, dance styles, hair and clothing styles, the list goes on- are also incredibly different.
Now, in our conversations, Tim has seemed very concerned about over generalizations, which I totally agree with. Not all black people are the same anymore than all white people are, and I appreciate his ability to differentiate and aversion to stereotypes. But, we both agreed that Sushma, a girl in our program who's parents were both born in India and moved here before she was born, has a different culture... or at least her parents do. I honestly see no issue in acknowledging that though life in an Indian village and Bombay are different, there is still a cohesive Indian culture, just as though Black Americans have differences in urban, suburban and rural environments, and vary socioeconomically, and simply as individuals, there is still a culture.
Tim is arguing for a larger American culture, and while there is definitely some truth to that, it's illogical to think we really all are one. If we were "one" the statistics in health, education and poverty would not be so disparate between racial groups. Furthermore, again, from Tim's own points, if there's no such thing as black culture, why would Shantel know about Yaki weave??? She is of a very mixed racial heritage, resulting in great hair that grows quite well without synthetics. And what about other things we've discussed, like "CP time" and "gov'ment names"- stereotypical yes, but brought about because there is the perception of different races (I do believe race is mostly a social construct) and therefore there are differing expected behaviors. These classification have resulted in different cultures. And you can't ignore the existence of things like "Ebonics"- a shockingly national dialect even before the advent of mass media.

I could go on for quite a while, thanks to many experiences both being "the black girl" and "not black enough", reading too much Michael Eric Dyson, and being a AAAS minor. But a dissertation here would be silly and I don't want to accidentally talk myself out of my depth.

Summary: While I appreciate Tim's viewpoint, I think he's wrong. But, I don't think it's his fault. He's not been confronted with these issues for a lifetime and therefore wouldn't realize that he provided a lot of evidence for my point. Color-blindness, which is what I would say Tim is arguing for, is a beautiful idea, but simply not realistic in the near future.




Heart TimTim though!


As proof, I've included a picture of a moment of merriment. (see right)