My Dave Chappelle Experience

Dave Chappelle was practically vilified when he abruptly departed from his hit show and gave up millions of dollars.  When Dave asked "why did you give all this up?" his response was "I had to get in touch with my inner coon."  Some may not quite understand what Dave meant, personally I somewhat understood but it wasn't until today at an all day team meeting that it really sunk in what Dave may have felt. 

During our meeting there was a period of dedication to the team's VP who is moving on to another role within the company. To celebrate this new endeavor the team performed a parody based on the sitcom song from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.  Lyrics were changed to suit the occasion and two of the team members performed. The team member who performed the rap was white and as he got up to perform, he did the whole "Yo, Yo Son! thing, walked with a supposed swagger and wore a
baseball cap tilted to the side.  His sidekick who was a sistah, was adorned in her Bonquiqui attire, big earrings, baseball cap and good lord an Adidas sweat suit top. As the fake Fresh Prince began rapping and his sidekick went on to do all the former hip hop dances the crowd roared in an uncontrollable laughter. 

For some reason my reaction was not to laugh, I did not see anything funny about this performance. As a matter of fact I found the performance offensive; at first I didn't understand why I was offended; was it because I didn't like the rap (it was whack) or could it be I felt a migraine coming on?  But as I looked on the laughter I saw were of people laughing at the way black people act not at his performance.  I saw a crowd who genuinely found a musical genre founded by my people and its actions as comical.  The worst part is, the few black people in the room cracked up too.  I don't know if I'm being hypersensitive, but for the life of me I couldn't see or feel it any other way.

In my mind if it feels a certain way then it is that way, no doubts! There was no disputing my perception and how uncomfortable it felt.  The feeling was reminiscent of watching an old movie in which a white character makes fun of Old Joe, the negro butler as he belts out one of the negro spirituals and all his white friends laugh and say "Oh Thomas you're such a hoot!" For the rest of the day I couldn't shake this experience, I was sour, very anti-social and couldn't wait for this meeting to conclude.  Once the day ended I got in my car and didn't regret the sour disposition I had displayed.  In my mind there was no need to pretend like I enjoyed the day.  I took the stance in recognizing I'm an adult with over 25 years experience in Corporate America and if I don't like something I be dammed if I act like I do.

For professional reasons I couldn't express myself, but I think my silence spoke volumes.  While I can't and like many others necessarily verbalized our feelings it is equally important that our actions display our disagreement.  While the parody act really messed up my day, I was proud that my reaction was authentic which for me helps gets through the hidden inner challenges we face as Blacktinas in Corporate America.

Peace out,
Blacktina

This is how I Don't Want To Remember Trayvon

Florida police officer uses image of Trayvon Martin for target practice! You don't believe me, read on!

The Guardian

Peace Out,
Blacktina

Jayonce and Obama - C'mon Son, Get the F*&k Outta Here!

OK I may go to jail for this article as its geared to my distaste of the Jayonce (Jay-Z and Beyonce) machine.  It seems these days if you say anything negative about them you're damm near anti-American.

Like many others I have bounced to their music, own CDs; as a matter of fact Get Me Bodied and Give it to me are probably some of my favorite songs - mind you this was pre-Obama.  What brings me to such discontent is Jay-Z's newest song "Open Letter" in which he boast about their trip to Cuba and goes on to mention "I might buy a kilo for Chief Keef Out of spite, I just might flood these streets, "at the end of this verses he states Obama said "chill, you gonna get me impeached" But you don't need this shit anyway.  Chill with me on the beach."  Lastly towards the end of the song he speaks of getting mad and "catching a body."

First of all Jay-Z you're 40 something, haven't you grown up?? Why are you still rapping about kilos and catching bodies.  Do you want us to believe you're still slinging drugs coupled with murderous acts.  Are you? If not may I suggest you grow up, read a book on philosophy or something and rap about something more legitimate to your world. You left Marcy projects a long time ago I sincerely doubt you and the Mrs. are renting a Section 8 apartment and chilling with the peeps.

Now for your Mr. President and your star struck ass! Out of all the people in the world you want to chill with you choose Jay-Z, really?!?! I can only imagine how intriguing a conversation must be between a Harvard graduate and a former drug dealer - are we feeling a little Dickens'ish? A little Prince and the Pauper thing going on?  I get the fact that the Jayonce machine held a very lucrative fund raiser for your re-election and you are probably eternally grateful; however, have you too lost your f@*king mind?!?!!? You are the President of the United States, the most powerful man in the world and here you are acting like the nerd who wants to hang out with the cool kids.  But haven't you heard; nerds done good, they rule this bitch and have sustainability.  Curious, do you want your daughters marryng a man like the Marcy project Jay-Z? Probably not, hell Jay-Z doesn't want his own daughter marrying that Jay-Z. 

In the end none of us can control who the President chooses to fratenize with. Though when it came to Reverend Wright he quickly ended that relationship, perhaps he should do the same with the Carters.  Personally I hope he gets some backlash for this; Fox speak up, this would be a legitimate one for you!  But I'll say this I did not vote for this type of man, the Barack Obama I voted for had a keen interest and aspirations for the betterment of all US citizens.  The 2nd term Obama is all about I'm cool as shit hanging with Jigga! Mr. President my advice to you is get it together do the job we voted you in for, mic down!

Peace Out,
Blacktina

Do I Laugh or Cry?

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.  Laugh for the mere fact that I'm astonished and I don't know why but nonetheless astonished that we actually had advertising that demoralized ethnicity(s) in such an atrocious way; or cry knowing that these feeling although hidden by some still exist today! Courtesy of thevine.com take a look at some of the common ads that plagued our society less than 100 years ago!


Peace Out,
Blacktina

Little Women!

Sheryl Sandberg, Marissa Mayer and all you stuck up little women who go around bullying others including fellow women as if you had a prosthetic penis attached to your vagina, let me me just say "You my dears are setting women back 100 years and then some!"
Women in Corporate America in general have made great strides; some of us are comfortable with still being Mommy's, wives, daughters, etc. Your recent public actions have insinuated that in order for a woman to achieve greatness she has to basically give up her family.  Maybe it's OK for you two and your comrades who make a million + + +, but it's not something every woman should or needs to do. We should be able to tend to our families; just like a man should and keep our positions as well as elevate.  The very act of saying that we can't lends credence to the male dominant opinion who's perception is we can't do both, a contradiction I'm sure many women unequivocally can dispute.  Our defense lies in the simple fact that we do it everyday without "domestic" help like you two ladies.

Before you go on 60 minutes and grace the cover of Time magazine may I suggest you get a grip and watch your words.   Sheryl and Marissa, I'm sure surrogate sisters somehow, do not represent the average woman in Corporate America as a matter of fact they represent a very small percentage of women who most likely have a hefty therapist fund for their children as they struggle with separation issues.  Lastly I truly hope both of these so-called corporate maniacal women are not taken seriously and many others such as myself go out their way to vehemently refute their so-called claims!  In retrospect I'm a mother first and a professional second, in my book a hug from my child is worth far more than a pat on the back from my boss (mic down)!

Side Note: I wasn't going to go here but if I have to or I wouldn't be Blacktina; could it be the message of these two women stem from them being white? After all isn't it common in the white culture for others to tend to their children? Throughout slavery it's no secret Mammy raised the children.  One of the most celebrated movies of 2012 publicized this very action in The Help.  Curious is this a cultural thing that these two very rich women share the same opinion because they have the same upbringing and in turn expect the same "return" as it pertains to child rearing? Just curious........

Peace out,
Blacktina

A Few Chips in the Cookie

Last week I attended a "thinkers" seminar on behalf of my employer.  The audience consisted of mainly senior management and some 1st line level managers.  As we were segmented into groups for various exercises I couldn't help but notice the racial demographics.  Each group of five had one black person; the total number of participants were 29, 23 of those 29 were white and the remaining six were black.  It's obvious we don't need a rocket scientist to decipher only 20% of the room containing management was black!  Is this phenomenon new? Absolutely not; but is it tiring, Absolutely YES!

As I worked within my group I wondered about the other 20% and was curious did they too feel the disparity.  Unfortunately these instances aren't new, however, I often self-examine why do they exist.  We often here the term equal opportunity; if there is only 20% of blacks in a room of management, did equal opportunity really prevail? Does the term equal opportunity mean equal amongst blacks and not the position? Is it equal to a certain allowable number? The methodology surrounding the equal opportunity equation is one that leaves some serious bafflement.  Unfortunately I do not have the answer; but I do know there is a problem.  Ironically the thinker seminar was based on problem solving.

So, Corporate America here's a problem for you "Why are so many high level positions still held primarily by whites?"  A couple of ways to solve this problem via the suggestions of the seminar was through mind mapping.  As my mind maps to this problem here's what I came up with:

Segregated Education -  Brown vs  Board fought for equal education amongst races, but not amongst financial class.  Once whites realized this they took they money and moved into all white neighborhoods.  Legally from a taxation view schools that are housed in a district with a larger income tax distribution receive more funds, less teacher to pupil ratio and overall a nicer place to learn, hence enhancing the desire to learn, preventing drop out rates.  Statistics show blacks/hispanics are poorer than whites; so if this doesn't change which obviously is affecting our education; are we doomed to always be the 20%?

Culture Differences - Black/Hispanics culture and needs are different from whites.  We do not care about hiking, camping, what do to in the case of a bear interaction.  These instances are not part of our normal lives.  Therefore, answers to questions regarding hobbies during an interview or personal perspectives may not necessarily attract an interviewer.  Yes, I know we can work around that but quite honestly the work around may seem inauthentic which ultimately discredits our chances.

20% - OK who's looking for us? Who thinks we're qualified? Are those in position considering candidates seeking us? Are they recruiting from inner city schools? Do they look in certain minority organizations? Where is the search coming from?

Using my newfound skills in addition to mind mapping the problem we're also supposed to define a viable solution that can be implemented and controlled.  Based on the results of my mind mapping exercise very little can be done.  I don't mean to sound gloom; however this is a truth.  As a people; do we work 110% harder?; do we increase the “hard work” number to 200%?; what is it that we can do to double our numbers from 20%?  The one thing we can do is provide awareness to the next generation.  20% may not seem like a lot but it's more than 1%, it's more than 5%, it's more than 10%!  20% is still not OK but it shows progress.  I've been in Corporate America for 25 years and I do remember when I saw 5%.  Being a young woman in a new world it really didn't appeal to me, but as I grew in ranks I began to understand the differences and applaud the strives being met.

My advise to you coming into this corporate world, do not become discouraged.  Speak your voice, don't worry if you don't hike or battle bears, honestly if that makes a person then this world is more screwed up than we thought, LOL.   At the end of the day you need to be yourself, there's a reason you were chosen.  Examine and embrace that reason and keep moving forward as you battle this fight.  As they say in boxing "may the best man/woman win!" Be the best you can be.  I’m sure strives will continue and as the 20% rises you can be proud that your best resulted in much deserved progress!

Peace Out,

Blacktina

Question - Django 2013? Answer - Christopher Donner

"Those of you who "go along to get along" have no backbone and destroy the foundation of courage. You are the enablers of those who are guilty of misconduct. You are just as guilty as those who break the code of ethics and oath you swore." - Christopher Donner


I DO NOT CONDONE KILLING of any kind, let me set the record straight before I proceed to write this article. - Blacktina

Now, what the hell is going on? For many the actions of Christopher Donner the ex LAPD officer who is terrorizing those and their relatives who have done him an injustice has resorted to "retribution" killing. I use the term "retribution" because this man is not just killing anyone, he is purposely going after those who wronged him, hence the title of this article Django 2013? Are his actions right? Absolutely not, but can one understand how the tipping point of always being unjustly treated just because you were born with more melanin can be an experience that can drive you over the edge. For most white people I'm sure the answer is No, as it should be the "White Right" aka privilege always protects you; but for people of color the experience can either leave you drained whereas you're emotionally wrecked or insensitive where you ignore all around you. From experience it's very easy to feel the former.

There's a point in a "minority's" life in which we just can't take it and will react. It's like a dog who's there to serve but you keep hitting him and chaining him up. One day that dog will get loose and Lord help you if he sees you, because an attack is eminent; that's how most of us feel everyday. We don't know which day we'll snap. Granted it won't be in the form an expert marksmanship, but I assure you an assault will come; whether is verbal, confrontational or just a good "Kiss the Blackest part of my ass" scenario; it will happen!

Notice to whitey and those who want to act like them; ease the f*ck up! Peeps are tired, we had enough of your Obama pro-primate campaign and feeling like you can treat or talk to us anyway. This is not 1858, we're not in a Django movie, but I assure you keep acting up and it will become one. My words are not a threat but just a warning to just STOP! I don't know what your parents, grandparents who whoever has taught you but whatever it was, it's wrong. You can not in all honestly berate individuals who are highly educated and strived for success like shit!

At the end of the day I really do hope Christopher Donner ceases his tirade of retribution, but I'm equally optimistic that the conversation of racism and all its parallels will continue and explore the depths of this ugliness on all levels!

Peace Out,
Blacktina