Generations of Black folks have been subjected to false information, from textbooks saying slaves were happy to eccentric relatives who claim every white man is evil. Historically, the truth of our American experience is bad enough, yet it’s typically yeasted with unnecessary conspiracy theories, old wives’ tales and urban legends.
Those who consistently deliver false knowledge don’t always intend to mislead the audience. Ignorance is often the driving force. But they peddle misinformation.
That’s not what we’re talking about here. We’re talking about wicked institutions and individuals – white and Black – who constantly and purposely repeat false or misleading statements with an ulterior motive. Those vile actors know they’re selling poisonous fruit, deliberately manipulated narratives meant to inflict damage. Yet they keep hawking it anyway for political gain, financial rewards, social status, ego strokes or (when they’re Black) proof of self-hate.
Prior to Boston’s series-clinching
rout in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, my colleague Touré said it’s time to show some
love
for the “Blackified Celtics.”
That’s asking a lot from this
native New Yorker.
For us, detesting Boston begins in our wee years. Rites of passage include a lesson on the flea market of racism to our north. The chilling picture of a Black man nearly speared during a 1976 busing protest was way too reminiscent of the South our elders fled. Bostonians’ hard accents could spark the same sense of uneasiness that a country drawl triggered. It doesn’t help that the damn Celtics now have 18 NBA titles while our beloved Knicks have just two (none since 1973).
If summer represents a more relaxed and easygoing spell – perhaps with a vacation thrown in – nothing beats the season’s initial day.
Although many people flip their seasonal switch on Memorial Day, the first day of summer offers a unique benefit. Also known as the summer solstice, it stands out as the longest day on the calendar, this year June 20 in the Northern Hemisphere. Those of us along the equator see roughly 12 hours of daylight, while individuals 40 degrees north get about 15 hours to enjoy.
During a keynote address in July 1852, at an event commemorating the Declaration of Independence, Frederick Douglass asked, “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?” Today, someone might ask, “What is Juneteenth to the enslaved people’s descendants?”
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture says Juneteenth marks America’s “second independence day,” long celebrated in the Black community but largely unknown elsewhere until it became a federal holiday in 2021. But just like the country’s initial Independence Day (July 4), the commemorative date for Black people’s independence (June 19) comes with asterisks.
“Ain’t
nobody comin’ to see you, Otis! You wish you could work it the way I do, but
you can’t!”
While portraying David Ruffin in “The Temptations” 1998 miniseries, actor Leon Robinson delivered that classic line with bite and spite. He was correct, as a lead vocalist arguing with a background singer, but he missed Otis Williams’ point: Fans bought tickets to see the group.
Until a lead singer (inevitably?) departs and embarks on a solo career, the group is all that matters.
June 10 is National Iced Tea Day, though some people call the beloved beverage “ice tea” or “sweet tea.”
The latter might seem odd because so many establishments only offer unsweetened versions and suggest adding sugar if desired. And then there’s “lemonade tea,” which must have its biggest fan in Arnold Palmer, the legendary golfer whose name is also the concoction’s alias.
ESPN host Dominique Foxworth recently
made an excellent point during an appearance on Bomani Jones’ podcast, noting
the difference between a polarizing figure and a lightning rod. In the former
category, you do or say things that drive folks into opposing camps. In the latter
category, you don’t have to do or say anything. Your mere existence is enough
to divide the masses.
Caitlin Clark is a lightning
rod, crackling in the WNBA and throughout pop
culture.
Her presence has brought added scrutiny to the 28-year-old league – where 70% of the players are Black and 100% are women. Not surprisingly, a lot of racism and sexism is on display from fans and the media.
Celebrities were among the earliest influencers, especially famous entertainers who enthralled fans and swayed consumers in person or print, over the air or on a screen. But that was eons before social media grew pervasive and reverse-engineered the process, changing life for generations born after the Internet shrunk the world.
Nowadays, fame and celebrity aren’t prerequisites for mass persuasion; renown can grow as individuals become influencers on social media, helping brands connect to targeted slices of cyberspace.
“When I was a child, I spoke and
thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish
things.” I Corinthians 13:11
Growing old and growing up are
not synonymous concepts.
The first is an involuntary process that occurs in daily increments, never ending until the day we die. The latter requires intentionality, a conscious effort to be responsible and accountable as we age and life becomes more complex.
Don’t let age fool you. A person who’s 50 can be less mature than a person with half that time on Earth. The rational part of our brain isn’t fully developed until around age 25, when functions for planning, prioritizing, impulse control and making good decisions are stronger.
Whatever we think of Stephen A. Smith as a broadcaster, we can’t deny he’s balling.
He’s a certified star in media, where ratings and revenue matter more than anything. He reportedly makes $12 million annually from ESPN alone, with a chance of hitting $20 million when his contract expires next summer. His eponymous YouTube show has more than 600,000 subscribers and is worth seven figures annually.
You know who else is balling? Smith’s friend Sean Hannity, the Fox News host who reportedly earns $45 million per year for a TV and radio show.
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