I woke up Monday and read that Jason Whitlock was going to appear on the 'Oprah' show. Even though I'm so sick of this story, I was excited to see what Whitlock had to say and was hoping he would take on and swallow (for lack of a better term) Al Sharpton whole.
But then a more important and pressing story occurred today on the campus of Virgina Tech where 33 people were shot and killed - - officially marking the end of the Don Imus coverage.
I do applaud (see, I gave her props) Oprah for further discussing the topic that seemingly won't die.
But by waiting until after the weekend, her show was pre-empted in the largest market in the United States, New York City, and up and down the east coast for coverage of the Virgina Tech shooting.
Instead of moving on to chat it up with your neighbors after Oprah spoke to the Rutgers women's basketball team Thursday, why not have this discussion then?
And I'm sure I'll hear every excuse in the book why she didn't from Oprah fans - - but it's a question that I have the right to raise.
But of course Oprah did say: "For years I wouldn't have the conversation because I didn't want to be in the fight alone. And so now that everyone is talking about it, I wanted to offer a forum."
That's a scary quote. If the most powerful woman in the world is scared to be in a fight alone about such a topic that hits home for all of us - - we are in trouble as a community.
Unless you decided to stay up to 1:30AM to catch the replay, you missed a semi-interesting discussion about moving forward now that Imus has been fired.
The showdown between Sharpton and Whitlock didn't come to a head. Whitlock was at the studio in Chicago while Sharpton was "rained in" back in New York.
If you go on national television and refer to me as a terrorist, I would drive to Chicago if I had to in order to defend myself.
I guess the rain causes havoc to Sharpton's perm...
Tomorrow's show includes Russell Simmons and Common as the show will shift towards the rap scene.
Common? Talk about playing it safe, O.
Common is not the person you need to be interviewing. When was the last time he has made a rap album that was degrading to women?
I'm sure Oprah decided to find the least threatening rapper that wouldn't frighten her target demographic (here's a hint: YOU aren't her target demographic) of suburban housewives.
Thoughts?
And spare me the you and Whitlock are Uncle Tom comments. E-mail those to me (hatesmarcus@aim.com) if you want to be big and bad and leave the comments for people who actually want to have a open dialog on the topic at hand.
Comments: (78)
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By: Gene on 4/17/2007 10:04AM
Every since that ignorant Oprah Winfrey has been brainwashed AND CONNED by africans she CONSTANTLY criticizes our black american children, families and our black american men for being on downlow, disrespecting women by calling them hos, ETC. ETC., BUT SHE NEVER SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT THE WORST MEN ON THE PLANET - AFRICANS WHO CUT THE CLIT OF THEIR WOMEN SO THEY CAN'T ENJOY SEX, HAVE MULTIPLE WIVES, AND COMMIT ALL KINDS OF HORRIBLE MADNESS AND MAYHEM AGAINST WOMEN.
I JUST CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THESE AFRICANS SHE LOVES SO MUCH GIVES HER EXACTLY WHAT SHE DESERVES. IT SEEMS THEY ALREADY STARTED FROM THE REPORTS COMING OUT OF THAT $40 MILLION RIP OFF.
THE WORST BLACK AMERICAN MAN IN THE GHETTO IS BETTER THAN THE BEST AFRICA HAS TO OFFER.
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By: carley on 4/17/2007 10:04AM
the Rev(Sharpton) speaks about lot of things that could have easily been swept under someones rug,so show some respect.Oprah is ot ignorant,she is very well educted,some you are angry because you truly wish to remain ignorant, and blind.
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By: SisterMalcolm on 4/17/2007 10:04AM
You're young, Marcus. You haven't yet matured into the intelligent and insightful grown man that hopefully, you will one day.
For you, it's all about appearances. Who speaks the loudest. Who is closer to your own personal biases, no matter how poorly thought out.
You're stuck in the Jerry Springer and Wannabe Culture, where posturing and thining your own ignorance is "cutting edge" is seen as revolutionary.
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By: SisterMalcolm on 4/17/2007 10:02AM
EXCELLENT READING FOR MARCUS:
In GHETTONATION, Daniels discusses her OWN GHETTO MENTATLITY. She explores how corporate America (Whitlock, Marcus and others) EXPLOITS GHETTONESS as a means to MAKE MONEY despite its DISTURBING RAMIFICATIONS.
She talks to people who EMBRACE GHETTO because its the IN THING TO DO and she chats with people WHO REALIZE that a GHETTO MENTALITY IS SELF-DEFEATING.
GHETTONATION is by Cora Daniels. Get it Marcus.
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By: Fred Pharr on 4/17/2007 4:28PM
It's a sad day in America when the NRA has more power over Guns Laws than the lawmakers who we elect to regulate and protect each American's safety. When you really look to someone to blame for yesterday's tragedy at Va Tech, look no further than our spineless, money hungry lawmakers that suppose to represent each of us. We as a people, black, white or multi racial should hold our elective officials responiosble and accountable for the weak gun laws and easy access to guns in this country. In a few months the Va Tech Tragedy will be old news and our Lawmakers will continue to take money from the highest bidder (lobbyist)to create weak and meaninless laws to make Big Business richer and the powerful more powerful!! The real Tragedy here are the American people, we don;t get involved, we only speak out when there are headlines or tragedy, start holding your local, state of federal elective official accoutable? "Wake up America, stop reacting and become proactive"!!
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By: jean humphreys on 4/17/2007 9:57AM
Frankly, every white public entertainer should know by now that if they dare say something derogatory about African Americans, it will immediately raise hackles everywhere. Never mind what African Americans say about whites or even each other. White people can say nearly anything about other whites. I really can't understand it.
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By: Tha Centop on 4/17/2007 9:57AM
Ok ok...This topic is gettin' OLD very fast...It's drawn out and allways circles back to the same things. White racisit guys says somthing, black "leaders" get into it, then question how blacks treat blacks, Oprah says something that divides African-Americans and Africans and people argue. It'll be the same story with another person starting it in a few months...I know one thing..
Black people never let any thing die...
and now IMUS will have his own show on satillite radio and make more comments and more MONEY than ever thanks to us making him more popular than a horny hooker at a sex addicts convention.
~Tha Centop~
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By: Cheri on 4/17/2007 9:55AM
I got the chance to see most of the show and thought the conversation was good. I am glad Oprah provided a forum so that folks were able to sit and have the discussion. It seemed they were able to 'agree to disagree' on elements of the problem, but all seemed to agree that there IS a problem. I am proud that there was no loud arguing, finger-pointing or name-calling. Too often this is the very type 'drama' that is associated with African-Americans and it's important that we are able to conduct ourselves with dignity and respect.
I am also glad that others are not 'sick' of the story. If there is any 'sickness' I think it is that the issue has been allowed to ferment this long in the community. And, lest we forget Oprah is human like everyone else. To be rich in money, doesn't mean that the spirit is any less vulnerable.
In my opinion, this should not be an argument used to boost ratings or prove that one is better or wiser than another. It's not about posturing and loud talk. What it needs to be is a continuous discussion. We should always talk about those images that represent and impact our community. In my thoughts Common may be on board today to represent another side of rap. After all, we are not monolithic in voice or interests, but it seems the question is where do 'we' draw the line in the pursuit of money?
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By: David on 4/17/2007 9:44AM
To Sister Malcolm, you need to pull your head out of Oprah's azz. I agree with Marcus. When Oprah asked Al Sharpton why the media doesn't cover this issue Al shot back "You're more qualified to answer that than I am". She kept stating over and over again that no one was dealing with this issue and that's a lie. Oprah ignored this issue even though the white children of her audience are the ones fueling gangster rap. Oprah is nothing but a hypocrite. She game 40 million for that African school stating poor black children don't care about education but hired that illiterate idiot fantasia to star in her Broadway show the color purple, even though she can't read! All she does, like most wealthy blacks do, is gave money to charity for the purpose of a tax write off and publicity. But when it comes to jobs and econimic investments, that's for whites only.
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By: MissCoCo on 4/17/2007 10:00AM
Another Excellent Blog Today Marcus!!! Keep Up The Good Work!!
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