Modern Day Tawana Brawley?

I am a graduate of both North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and Duke University. I believe this fact qualifies me to address an issue affecting both of my alma maters and the black community at large - the Duke Rape Case. Both universities are located in Durham, NC. One, the nations first state funded historically black college and the other, a predominantly white university with a nearly $4 billion endowment. I attended NCCU as an undergraduate earning my bachelors degree and Duke to earn an MBA. The dancers hired to entertain at a Duke lacrosse team party were students at NCCU.

For those not familiar with the Tawana Brawley case, follow the link below for a brief summary. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawana_Brawley

In short, Ms. Brawley gained notoriety in late 1987 for alleging that she had been assaulted by six white men. She claimed some of the men were police officers. The details of the assault were particularly obscene - racial epithets were written on her torso in charcoal and feces was smeared on her face. She was found in a garbage can near her apartment.

The black community immediately came to her defense...understandibly so given the alleged details of the assault. The outpouring of sympathy and financial support from the public at largewas soon followed by the arrival of Reverend Al Sharpton - the self declared, primary spokesperson for all those suffering racial injustice. A grand jury hearing was arranged in an effort to bring all the facts in the case forward.

Following a thorough investigation, no evidence of a sexual assault was found and the rest of Ms. Brawley's story fell apart like a house of cards. In the end, no case was brought against the six men accused, and Ms. Brawley and her mother fled NY state with approximately $300,000 that had been collected to support her anticipated legal effort.

Now - fast forward 20 years and consider the details of the Duke rape case. We have a similar situation with a black woman accusing several white men of kidnapping, physical assault and rape. I don't mean to insinuate that all the details of these cases are similar, only that the negative impact and the scrutiny they bring to the black community is similar and considerable.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not that concerned with a few from the privileged set having to take an L over something they may or may not have actually done. The very same thing, and significantly worse, has happened to many, many black men in the past as a result of false accusations. At the end of the day, the negative impact on the (seemingly) wrongly accused will be minimal. Their network of wealth and connection will come forth to provide for them and they will live their lives as planned.

The point I am raising is how negatively these - again seemingly false -accusations affect the black community. I listed with great interest to the press conference held by the defense attorneys after Nifong's misdeeds were brought to light. They read from the accusers original testimony following the alleged attack. She described in great detail how she was assaulted, who did it and for how long. I mean very, very specific detail. This testimony was then compared to her latest statemnts which went something like this - "I can't be certain I was actually penetrated during the attack". Wow! What a significant about face.

Now, as we approach the apparent end of this saga a few things are clear. Nifong seems to have achieved his objective. He endeared himself to the blacks in Durham County by jumping on the case and supporting the exotic dancer. He "defended the rights" of black folks and was reelected as the District Attorney for Durham County, NC. The lacross players are most likely going to be exhonerated of all charges so in the end, their interests will be met.

A few questions for your consideration:

• Where does this leave the black community?


• Are we too easily manipulated?


• How and why did the initial allegations come about?


• Did the monied university or someone representing their interests get to the accuser and provider her with motivation to change her story?


• What role did race and class play in this case?

Just a few things for you to consider. For me, I still support both universities in spirit, but only one financially....and I still like booty dancers.

H

Just "get over" it...

My writing partner (and former heaving drinking buddy) raised a few questions in his previous post. I have a response. To me, an easy and apparent answer comes to mind. "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Why are we still "waiting to fulfill" the dream and why are significant "firsts" just not being fulfilled? As I said, the answers or the reasons behind this retarded evolution is closely connected to the legacy of racism and majority privilege that exists in the United States.

I read and try keep my self up to speed on how our society is evolving. The residual impact of how our country was developed is apparent. Time and the effect of old age will slowly address issues like the one described in this article. So, my answer is fairly direct - It's taking this long to achieve the dream because people like Mr. Hargrove are still alive and in positions of authority and influence.

I actually laughed out loud when I read this little news blurb and considered the absurdity of Mr. Hargrove's statement. Anyone who believes that the impact of slavery on the black community and the associated impact on America's current societal issues is sadly mistaken.

Just "get over" it! As long as people with that attitude are alive, raising children and influencing others, the fulfilment of the dream will be in jeopardy. I read with great interest an anonymous comment on Cabong's "The Big Picture" post. I was struck with how well the contributor addressed aaaalllota issues. As the comment indicates - We "still have a long way to go"...

H

The Big Picture

Keep an Eye on the Big Picture

As we approach the biggest television viewing day of the year, let’s put some things in perspective. The media has been making a big deal, and deservedly so, of the fact that Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith, two African American head coaches, are leading their respective teams into the Super Bowl. I am proud of these two men as well and I do not ignore the significance of their accomplishments. But even as I anticipated their wins on Sunday watching the games, I had a bittersweet taste in my mouth. Why, almost 39 years after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., is America still waiting to fulfill his dream? Why, almost 39 years after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., are we still experiencing these very significant “firsts?” And now that we have coaches of color on the sidelines, how much longer before we have a majority owner in the NFL? How much longer until we have a commissioner of color in a major professional sport? We have a long way to go so let’s temper our enthusiasm and stay in the fight.

I know that change takes time and I know you cannot rush progress. But I think this is a moment in time that can be used by all Americans to examine where we are as a country. Since most of America will at some point glance at the game, whether you are a football fan or not, challenge yourself to use this moment of historical significance to examine your feelings about race. You don’t have to engage anyone in conversation to do this. Just look inward and ask some tough questions of yourself. For example, if you are a white person, ask yourself if you would let a Black person make financial decisions for you and your family’s future? Ask yourself if you trust a Black surgeon to save your life or the life of a loved one. Some Black people need to ask themselves the same questions because there are some self-esteem issues and identity issues that many of us possess that have passed down through the generations that cause us to look at our own people and ourselves in negative ways. So while we celebrate the accomplishments of our Super Bowl coaches and acknowledge their ability, examine how we feel about other issues that have more at stake than simply winning a football game.

I met my writing partner and friend, H (the catalyst) in college at North Carolina Central University in 1983. From the day we met we had a friendship that often involved discussions of race from historical perspectives. We liked to challenge each other as to which of us had the greater knowledge of Black history. It was a fun discussion and both of us would learn from the other. We never did denigrate Black professionals or the significant contributions of our people. Sadly, I have heard other Black people engage in the type of hatred I would expect from a racist. I have heard my people say they would not go to a Black doctor, or use a Black lawyer or engineer or architect, etc. Many of our own people have been brainwashed into believing that we are less qualified than our White counterparts. So in that way, many Blacks and Whites share the same views. Rarely, though, do you see or hear a White person deny the competency of another White person. If you do, it’s an isolated incident and a criticism of one person, not the generalization against an entire race. I’ve actually known graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) say they wouldn’t send their children to their alma mater or any other HBCU. That to me is reprehensible but I also feel sorry for someone who feels that way.

I tie the above paragraph to the Super Bowl coaches for one reason. Most people accept Blacks in significant roles in sports. We as a people have proven ourselves to be good athletes who regularly compete and dominate at the highest levels in sports. And now, with Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy on the sidelines the world can see that intellectually, Black people can lead in sports. But we still have to reach the point where we strive to meet the dreams of Dr. King and judge all people on the content of their character. And we also have to get to the point where we trust the intelligence of all races in all endeavors. We must shed the hatred and self-hatred that causes us to only trust certain races to do certain jobs.

The old cliché is that sport brings people together. Let’s use this moment in sports history to start coming together in a bigger and more important arena: LIFE.

Please think,
Cabong

African Americans & Christianity

Is religion, specifically Christianity, helpful or harmful to Black people? Where I live, in Charlotte, NC, just asking that question will cause people to accuse me of being an atheist. In fact, I have been called an atheist many times. I consider myself to be an agnostic, though. An agnostic is defined by MerriamWebster.com as " a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable; broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god."

Here, briefly, is why I can't just have faith (a firm belief in something for which there is no proof) that there is a God. I really need some tangible evidence. If God exists and he is omnipotent and merciful and created all of us in his image, I need for someone to explain to me why Blacks the world over suffer in disproportionate numbers compared to all other races.

• Why do my brothers and sisters in Africa suffer from AIDS, famine, drought, and exploitation in increasingly alarming numbers?
  


• Why do Blacks in America have household incomes, on average, that are a fifth of the average household income of white families?

Now, I know that some people, especially racist white people and perhaps ultra conservative Republican Black people, will say that Black people don't work hard enough or smart enough. They will say that we should pull ourselves up by our boot straps and argue that if some Blacks succeed, then all can succeed. And there may be a shard of truth in that assertion for many Black people. But I have another opinion.

Perhaps if our take on God and religion was a little different, we wouldn't make rationalizations that hold us back from meeting our full potential. Maybe if many (not all, mind you) of our ministers stopped telling their congregations things like "when the rent is due and you don't have any money, God will take care of it", we might not be in such bad shape financially because we would understand that money doesn't drop from the sky and having the occasional good fortune of finding or earning a little extra money isn't a "blessing from God" but some good luck or the result of actually earning that money.

Maybe if we stop using God as a crutch and following the style of Christianity introduced to us by our original oppressor - the slave master/owner - we might make some real progress. Because the slave master was of the opinion that there were passages in the Bible that justified slavery. And at the same time he made this justification, he would not allow the slaves to practice the religion brought from Africa or there would be severe consequences to pay, from being whipped or having families separated or even death. And over time, through the complications and dynamics that occurred during slavery, we adopted the version(s) of Christianity we have today.

Many of us (not all by any means) seem to take complete solace in religion because we have been taught to do so. And I think that is a mistake. Simply accepting a philosophy at face value because your parents and grandparents practiced that philosophy isn't sufficient reason to buy into that philosophy without thinking about what you are practicing.

I am not saying God doesn't exist: I am saying I can't be sure.

I don't see how anyone can be sure ... but that's a personal issue. My big issues with religion and Black people is this: don't just go to church and pray to God because that's what someone else does and you are afraid you'll go to hell if you don't. Don't assume that because you go to church on Sundays you are somehow morally superior to those who don't. And please, if you are religious and you want to engage me in a discussion about God, stop getting overly emotional and offended when your philosophy is challenged. Educate yourself and be able to have a logical conversation. Be proactive with your life and don't wait on God to take care of you. If you ask for his assistance along the way because that gives you more confidence, great. But do some of the work yourself, too, whether your goal is earning more money, finding some peace of mind, or losing weight.

One other thing: George W. Bush campaigned for and won the Presidency by calling himself a "Christian." He doesn't act like any version of a Christian I have read about. I guess there are many versions, though. So be careful how you label yourself.

Sincerely,
Cabong

Couldn't have said it better myself...

I think all who heard about the story of Wesley Autry were touched by his selfless act. For those who saw the diagram of exactly what Mr. Autry faced and the small space he had to protect himself and the disoriented victim, his bravery and selflessness are even more amazing.

The editorial piece shown here says it best!

New Direction in Leadership & Politics

...maybe this new direction in leadership will encourage a more significant turn out from the African American community at the polls...?

As my boy just asked me via e mail...

"Is America really ready for this?"

...my response...

"I don't know!"

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/17/us/politics/17obama.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Black History Month and Voting

As we celebrate the National holiday recognizing the work of Dr. Martin Luther King and approach February, Black History Month, many important issues are raised. One of the good things about this time of year is the amount of programming you find on television addressing issues important to Black America.

I was lucky enough to catch a documentary outlining the challenges faced by the Freedom Riders and remarked on how driven, focused and aware the young students in the documentary were. They appeared to understand the importance of their role in being responsible and driving change. I then noted the stark contrast in the image of the “typical” young students today. The students in the documentary were dressed professionally, spoke well and were working hard to address significant issues. They were risking their lives, or at least a fairly serious beat down at the hands of southern racists, in an effort to desegregate bus stations in the South.

What are young students or young Black people doing today? What efforts are they addressing that relate to the advancement of the race? What recognition do they have of the sacrifices that have been made on their/our behalf’s?

I don’t know if the climate of the day is the same as it was in the past. I am certain that Black people today do not feel the sense of urgency required to support the continuing “struggle”.

How about this? How about we start with Black people VOTING? People have lived difficult lives and even died to give us the opportunity to vote. How can we ignore that privilege and stay at home on Election Day? What good reason could you possibly have for not going to the polls?

If you are reading this and know anyone that DOES NOT vote, please make every effort to impress upon them the importance of exercising this very important right.

Our Journey in Cyberspace!

The Black race is "seemingly" in a state of crisis. If one reads, watches or listens to popular media, it may appear that the majority of African Americans live in poverty, exhibit sexually irresponsible behavior, are chronically violent or criminal by nature and do not work hard enough or smart enough to make something positive of their lives. But the popular media has it wrong for the majority of the stories they broadcast and publish. And they have it wrong because too few African Americans work in media. There are too few writers, broadcasters, directors, producers and managers in radio, television, print media and internet outlets.

We are here to begin to dispel myths, tell the truth and help bring about change in how our people are portrayed. We will examine the behavior of our people but we will also discuss the causes of those behaviors. We will not make excuses but we will not simply cast accusations, either.

This blog will be free of simple rhetoric. Our goal is to tell the truth at all times. Sometimes that will be painful but pain is often a part of growth. We wish to grow and we wish for our audience to grow with us. We look forward to the journey and invite your feedback.

Sincerely,
H and Cabong