#wriot

By: Kayla Jamerson, wRiter 

“You say ‘n***a,’ why can’t I say it?”

“If a white person said that, we’d be called racist.”

“You wouldn’t cry racism if a black cop killed a white kid.”

“Slavery was years ago, let it go already.”

These are just a few of the many comments I’ve experienced or observed any time black people speak out on issues or situations regarding racism, injustice, prejudice or the like.

I have been accused of hypocrisy quite a few times while expressing how I feel about certain situations involve race. For instance, people love to point out that black people can use the ‘n’ word as they wish, but white people cannot.

There have been multiple instances in which I’ve overheard someone who is not black use the ‘n’ word in a casual manner, whether it’s in conversation or singing the lyrics to a rap song. Apparently, these days, since African Americans use the word,  permission is granted for individuals of other races to use it as well… but honey, I’m here to tell you, that is NOT the case.

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I’m sure we are all aware of the history of the word as a derogatory slur prevalently used during the era of slavery and segregation. A word used in a nation built on freedom and liberty, yet a nation that also thrived off slavery and inequality. Blacks now have adopted the term and transformed it into a word used to express companionship, and although it may not be the best word choice, the connotations differ depending on the lips it escapes from.

Let’s stop pretending that a black person saying the ‘n’ word and a white person saying it falls under the same circumstance. Let’s stop pretending that you assuming I’m a thief or drug dealer is the same as me assuming you are a racist or my tendency to question your genuineness. Let’s consider the fact that you’ve never been systematically mistreated or oppressed.

History is relevant, and plays an essential role in behavior patterns that persist today. The difference in our histories is why to you, “its not that serious.” Slavery and segregation may have been years ago but we will not “let it go” or forget. Although there has been societal progression, we cannot and will not disregard roots that play such a significant role in our culture and who we are.

When you have to have a talk with your sons about how to conduct himself around law enforcement, then maybe you can use the ‘n’ word. When you’re followed around a store the minute you enter through the doors, then maybe you’ll understand why we so often “cry racism.” When you’re told that the way your hair grows from your scalp is a “distraction” or “unprofessional” then maybe you’ll understand our quickness to transition into defense mode when the slightest bit offended. If your great grandparents were only considered 3/5ths of a human being, maybe I’ll hand you a race card that you can use at your leisure. When you become victims of a system that targets you simply because of your skin alone, then maybe you will gain some clarity as to why we “complain so much” or why we are so “sensitive.”

Black people are ridiculed for speaking out, but how else do you suggest we be heard? When will black lives and black voices actually matter? How much longer should we accept inferiority?

We may have overcome separate bathrooms and sitting at the back of the bus, but that is not enough to keep us quiet. A television network, the month of February and a black president does not compensate, just how Beyoncé in your iTunes library or your loyalty to LeBron James does not exempt you from being a racist.

Source: Getty Images

By: Trevor Neely, wRiter

Although we are all human beings who are capable of extraordinary things, our society has been plagued by the ugliness of stereotyping.

Each race has its own stereotype that separates it from the other races. If a person is caught up in the media, they will eventually begin to feel as though these stereotypes are actual facts. This simply just is not the case.

Take the myth of black men for example. If you were to ask someone if there were more black men in prison or in college, their initial answer would be prison. This myth is aided by the stereotype that black men are uneducated, barbaric and hot tempered.

The fact of the matter is that this myth is simply not fair. According to a March 16, 2013 BBC News article, “Taking a closer look at the figures back in 2009 showed that there were 600,000 more black male college and university students than black male prisoners. The story so often repeated was not true.”

Now, this does not mean that the black male prison population is not still disproportionate. Blacks make up for more than 40 percent of the prison population but only account for 12 percent of the U.S. population. It seems the system is working well for its enforcers. These numbers do not come as a surprise since the majority of these prisoners are a result of the wasteful “War on Drugs” aimed to put more blacks behind bars. That is a truth for another time though. The fact still remains that we have to stop characterizing our young black youth as prison bound.

We feed black boys with the idea that they either have to rap, play sports or sell drugs just to be what society deems successful. What we need is a rise in black leaders. I’m not talking about someone who will come to every racial injustice argument and raise hell. No, I am talking about the ones who will make a stand so powerful and start a movement so influential that we will not have to have another march or protest. We will not have to say, “Justice for (insert young black person’s name here).”

We need to put more positivity in the minds of our youth and show them that they are kings and queens. They have a birthright to this land. Their ancestors built this country with blood, sweat and tears so that they would one day have a place in this society as leaders, innovators and creators. We can do it. It all starts with the conscious decision to make that change. Who’s ready?

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By: Ishmael Johnson, wRiter

Professional wrestling has been a guilty pleasure for many, and a simple pleasure for me.

Personally, I don’t think anyone should feel guilty about enjoying something as innocent as professional wrestling. Growing up during the Attitude Era and watching the likes of Stone Cold, The Rock and Triple H reach pinnacles that shaped the legacy of pro-wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. Even all the way down to my favorites; Undertaker, Jeff Hardy and Mick Foley, the WWE was a significant part of my childhood.

Now as an adult, I may not be as invested in storylines now as I was then, but the enjoyment of watching Monday Night RAW is still there. However, I’d be lying if I said that the lack of black American wrestlers reaching a level of prominence wasn’t disheartening to me.

Sure, there have been plenty of black wrestlers to make their way through the WWE. D-Lo Brown, Ron “Farooq” Simmons, Junk Yard Dog, D-Von Dudley, Booker T and Shelton Benjamin. All very talented wrestlers, but none were given the chance to reach prominence outside of, perhaps, Booker T.

Outside of those names it’s hard to find a black wrestler that wasn’t shoved into a stereotypical gimmick by the WWE creative team. JTG, Kamala, R-Truth, Shad Gaspard and Kofi Kingston were all fixated into some character that was based purely off of a stereotype. Whether it be a criminal (JTG/Shad), rapping street dancer (R-Truth) or native African (Kamala), there’s always been an issue with stereotyping gimmicks.

I’ll be the first to admit that the WWE has a long way to go to catch up to today’s progressive morality. Teams like the Mexicools, Cryme Tyme and Kai En Tai are examples of a racial insensitivity that pervades the industry. Yet, wrestlers like Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio and most recently Hideo Itami have begun to break down stereotype of those cultures.

The black stigma for the most part remains.

When Simmons won the WCW Title in 1992, it appeared to be the dawning of a new era. Simmons was the first black wrestler to hold a major title and when he did, the entire arena erupts because the crowd realized it just witnessed history.

It must be stated, yes, pro-wrestling is scripted. The outcomes are predetermined, but the decision behind who wins and how speaks toward the direction of the wrestling organization. It comes down to the simple question of, “Who do we want on all of our posters?” and “Who do we want people to think of when they imagine the WWE?”

So far that person has never been black. No black wrestler has held the company’s most prestigious title, the WWE Championship.

The most prominent black wrestler today is Mark Henry. Henry has been a staple for the WWE and has even held one of the big championships in the World Heavy Title, but never the company’s prized possession. Despite being one of the WWE’s most recognizable faces and a future Hall of Famer, the “World’s Strongest Man” has never and likely will never hold the championship.

Behind Henry is Kofi Kingston, a very athletic wrestler who is known for his high-flying antics and Jamaican gimmick (Kingston’s character is said to be the first Jamaican wrestler although he’s actually Ghanaian and was born in Tampa Bay). Kingston is barely regarded as a mid-tier superstar and his television appearances have been dwindling since he first debuted.

After these two the list topples off into irrelevance. The rest of the black wrestlers are regarded as undercard “jobbers” meaning that they’re there to make the top guys look better.

Now, there’s an elephant in the room that must be addressed, Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson. The reason I don’t considered The Rock as the first black champion is because when he entered the WWE as Rocky Maivia, he was showcased more with his Samoan background.

Originally, The Rock was partnered with the black militant faction The Nation of Domination, but once he went solo, the company never hinted at his black culture. As far as the WWE’s concerned, The Rock is Samoan.

Now the obvious argument in response to “no black wrestler being promoted to the top” is that there simply hasn’t been a black wrestler charismatic enough to propel. My counter is that the WWE has continuously pushed wrestlers who didn’t have the personality simply for having “the look”.

When this will change? Who knows, there doesn’t seem to be a young black wrestler on the roster that I can honestly see the company pushing forward. My hope was for Kingston eventually, but he’s recently been packaged into a faction with fellow black superstars Xavier Woods and Big E. Langston to form The New Day, a group based solely around the idea of southern Baptist preachers. 

Has the WWE figured out this racial thing? Doesn’t appear so.

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By: Kayla Jamerson, wRiter

Growing up as a child, not once did I ever see a Disney princess’ skin or hair that looked like mine. This didn’t stop me from loving the movies or from wanting to be a princess. However, it did create a single-story in my mind of what a princess is and what she looks like. She had to be white, she had to be thin, and she had to have long hair. Princesses definitely weren’t black, I knew that much.

Most people have either heard of or seen the popular Annie franchise which started off as a Broadway show and later was recreated into several classic films. The movie was recently recreated and released in theaters except this time around, Annie was played by young black actress, Quvenzhané Wallis.

When I first heard that the movie was being re-made I wondered why, considering it was so successful in the past and that I personally loved it as a child. However, after seeing the previews for the new film and learning that the new Annie was black, I became a supporter of the movie. Now, before you ask, no, this is not only because she was black, but because of the meaning behind it.

Young black girls and young white girls are going to see this movie and although the story-line is the same, they are going to see it slightly different than I did. Young black girls will see someone who looks like them, whose hair is big, kinky and curly like theirs. Young white girls will see someone that looks different than what they’re used to seeing, and hopefully become more aware that not every main character in a children’s film looks the same. These young white girls will learn that it’s okay for other girls to have brown skin or kinky hair.

Even today, it is not often that someone of color is cast as a leading role in a major film. In the original Annie, “Daddy Warbucks” is a rich white male who builds a relationship with Annie throughout the movie and in the end decides to adopt the orphan. In the 2014 film, “Daddy Warbucks” is changed to “Mr. Stacks”, who is played by black actor, Jamie Foxx. “Mr. Stacks” is an educated, wealthy entrepreneur, a role that is often associated with an older white male on and off the big screen.

Breaking barriers and subverting stereotypes are key principles that play into the recreation of this film. I’m sure these were the aims of the producers behind it, which happened to include Hollywood luminaries like Jay-Z, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith.

Movies, television shows, magazines, advertisements… these things have a bigger influence on our minds than we know. The media influences our ideas and perceptions of certain groups of people, and sometimes those ideas and perceptions stick with us forever. By creating diversity in children’s movies and television shows, this will allow them to see different groups of people in different ways and ultimately become more accepting and fond of other children that don’t necessarily look like them.

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Discrimination and racism are still very much prevalent and as young adults in 2014 we are still trying to educate our peers on the wrongs of this behavior. Despite our efforts to educate, in reality, the damage is already done. Once you’ve been conditioned to think a certain way for so long, it’s difficult to depart from those views. Young children are the ones who need to be educated. It is essential that they be exposed to diversity in every aspect possible considering that this country is becoming more diverse as the years go by.

Times are changing and its only right that society changes with it. Stories that were told years ago are being recreated to adjust with the time period and I think it is an excellent idea. The youth is the future. Their ideas are what will shape this country one day. “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

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By: Morgan Jenkins, wRiter

Last week we watched one of black entertainments most talked about celebrities go public with his relationship problems. Chris Brown is notorious for his random outburst on social networks; whether he’s defending himself or his relationship, none of his rants are ever appropriate. There were a few accusations that no one knows the truth to, but they did question his girlfriend’s loyalty to him. The next day he turned around and expressed how sorry and wrong he was. All though his song says “these girls ain’t loyal”, his loyalty was questioned as soon as he put their business out in public.

The excuse of using Instagram or Twitter to express how you feel should not be used as an excuse to out your significant other about the things that has gone on in your relationship. This is not simply a privileged celebrity problem. Unfortunately, it happens quite often with every day, regular people. People think that if Chris Brown can do it and it’s amusing, then we can do it and garner the same kind of amusement. But who actually enjoys making someone look bad?

This new thing called “exposing” is getting very old, very fast. It shows just how much maturity one lacks when they have to resort to such petty tactics. I for one have seen this happen on Twitter and Instagram multiple times with couples who swore they were in love but as soon as they feel betrayal they go straight to exposing their significant other. It is not ok. Again, this is not ok. Although this tactic is used from being hurt by someone who was suppose to be loyal to you, it questions your loyalty to that person. As soon as things go up in flames, does that give you a reason to out your girl/boy friend?

Frankly, I am astonished by the level of interest people take in others' business when it seems their world is crashing down. I’ve never understood what is so good about knowing someone else’s business. I’m afraid that social networks have become the wrong type of diary to keep a secret in. It’s getting harder and harder to trust people because of silly things like this. The older we become, the more we need to be aware of what loyalty really means. Not just in relationships, but friendships and most importantly, what does loyalty mean to ourselves. Learning to love yourself and be loyal to yourself can take you a long way.

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We as a race are being taught to love our black men and cherish our black women. But how can we do this when we feel the need to take matters into our own hands and degrade them on something so small, yet so lasting. Learning how to control what you say to someone and how you say it, can make a big difference, especially when you have 1.2 million followers on Twitter and such. I do not know everything, but I know that when I decided to be loyal to my friends and my family and a significant other, I realized that there was a part of me that needed to grow up. I had to understand that what I do to them and how I do it is just a reflection of how I feel about myself and how I treat Morgan. So the next time you have the opportunity to hurt someone or expose them, look in the mirror and realize the only person who has total control of the situation is you.