Posted: May 6, 2009 | Author: pittswiley | Filed under: People, Post-Grad Psychosis, Thought Food |
Twittering the other day, I received a message about Maine’s Judiciary Committee passing a
same-sex marriage bill. Pithily, I posted, “Gay marriage legislation is the new black,” in a satirical jab at the trite and overdone ‘____ is the new black’ cliche.
Twitterer @sunnykins, able to decipher satire, was taken aback because the statement unwittingly furthered a so-called bastion of equality that, in many ways, acts as a cover to the ugly realities the LGBTQ community faces, especially those individuals of color. Gay marriage is the marker many of us use to feel self-satisfied while young boys, unable to cope with homophobic hostilities,
hang themselves.Gay marriage does not wash away the problems facing the LGBTQ community. In many ways, it acts as a salve so those outside of this community can feel self-satisfied. Those who support it can feel progressive while paying little attention to the other treacheries that threaten
LGBTQ individuals and those who oppose it can defend the sanctity of marriage
while doing the same.
While we herald the mainstream gay rights movement–a movement that is largely identified as white–LGBTQ people of color and the problems they face are pushed to the margins. The parallels between this trend and the American feminist movement of the 1960s would almost be amusing if they were not so sad.
If the Black community is real, what are we doing to embrace those within this community who have struggles that different in kind but not degree?
Posted: May 6, 2009 | Author: pittswiley | Filed under: Pitts Indeed |
What an interesting cultural moment we’re in. America’s First Priestess of Post-Black is teaming up with KFC to give out free chicken. Every Black person I know knows about it. My cousin sent me an email about this development this morning at 9AM EST. She’s in Los Angeles.
Yes; the most powerful Black woman in the United States–sorry FLOTUS, but it’s true–is giving out fried chicken and this didn’t read to me as smacking of coonery nor did it seem to for the Blackademics with whom I tend to carouse. Sure, it’s grilled and not fried, thus taking away some of the stereotype, but still.
In the wake of the recent Popeye’s debacle, a Black woman is giving away free chicken and the gesture seems utterly devoid of race in both intent and probable result. Maybe Popeye’s is just the darker brother in the chicken world, but that seems too easy.
Is the non-commentary because she’s Oprah and certain ‘Black’ stigmas just don’t stick to her? Is it because of the Obama Effect and everyone accepting the myth that the issue of race no longer needs to be grappled with? Or is it merely because few people are in a position to turn down free grub, racial connotations or not?
