LeBron James & Politics… Marginalized Groups Should Take Note

by with 2 Comments Sports

“Marginalized groups in America should employ the LeBron James Free Agency Model. The model being, never be predictable, make all moves in accordance with what you want, and have said moves impact the course of others.”

It’s very fitting that Superstar LeBron James has made the Los Angeles Lakers his possible career-ending landing spot. The Lakers are the most storied franchise in professional basketball, and Los Angeles is easily the most glamorized city in America. LeBron, since high school, has been the most covered sports star in America, if not the world. Only Tiger Woods could cough in the room to express a disagreement. With that being said, the NBA free agency frenzy that is “What will LeBron do,” has received more coverage than even the NFL offseason and all of their off the field issues. (Follow up article on the NBA going head to head with the NFL is for a future date.) 

It got me to thinking about how LeBron has made his decisions regarding his career, and how those seeking political power should take notice. I’ll explain.

LeBron has independently orchestrated all his unpredictable career moves to the beat of his Akron, Ohio drum. His moves have been calculated and unorthodox, those same moves caused other teams and players to change their course of action. Case and point, in an effort to make the Cleveland Cavaliers younger and possibly retain Lebron’s talent and keep it in Ohio for good, the Cavs front office made an unorthodox move themselves by trading away their future to a team (LA Lakers) in which LeBron could be headed to. And whata ya know, LeBron is headed to LA, a move possibly not open without that trade during the regular season.

For the first time in the history of sports, one player in a sense, their sole actions impact every other team and every other player in their respective league. Power!

How does that work politically?

When a small social group is in a plight to be equal with a larger social group, the worst thing said group should do is become predictable. Their second worse move should be one of isolation. Instead, their moves should be unpredictable and felt by others. Think lawsuits for coffee being too hot and now all coffee cups cautioning you a hot beverage is actually hot.

Politically speaking, certain groups have become as predictable as they’ve become marginalized, and their actions have become isolated. For example, Black Americans are exclusively Democrat voters, even if not registered with the party. Though such a political force has force, it doesn’t have power. There’s a difference.

True power is leverage, leverage to be used to get what you want and how you want it.

LeBron James used his skill set as leverage to not only land a big paycheck, $154 million to be exact, but he also used his leverage to arrange the best situation at that time for him and his family. Why stay in Cleveland and lose, when you can go to Miami and win with friends? Certain social-political groups should question why they’re so vested and beholden to a party or platform that does not ensure what they want, let alone basic liberties. 

Black Americans have dangerously hindered their own progress on key issues partly due to committing to only one political party. This has double ramifications. 1) The other party has completely shut them out because they know they’re never going to support them. And 2) the so-called party who’s supposed to have their back has to only do so much, why? Because they’ve have them under contract and they know they’re never hitting free agency for a better deal.

A double dribble if you will… a conundrum for Black Americans and other marginalized groups? Maybe.

I’m not suggesting all Black American’s flock to the Republican Party. But like LeBron, be unpredictable. If they left the Democratic Party like LeBron left Cleveland, if or when they came back, who knows, they just might make history and win a championship.

Your perspective is important… let us know what you think?

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The Unintentional Racist

by with 4 Comments CultureFeatured

My ancestor was Ovid Butler. He founded Butler University because he thought Blacks and Women should have the same right to an equal education as white men. For knowledge knows no color or gender. This I truly believe. After all, it’s in my blood…

Well, last week I had an unexpected experience that really changed me. It was shocking, sad, but in the end, hopeful.

I had a beloved book as a child called, Little Black Sambo. How I would giggle as this little African-American boy ran around the tree and tigers turned to butter as he fed his village! I always thought his name was literally, Sambo. That was until last week. Me and one of my girlfriends, who happens to be African-American, were talking about our favorite childhood books. She huffed back at me that Little Black Sambo was totally derogatory! I, of course, didn’t remember it that way. As I remember – it was a very dark, almost black-skinned child, with big pink lips. He had ripped clothing. I just remember him being happy and saving the day. But maybe I was wrong. My friend was clearly frustrated so I told her I would do some research on this little boy Sambo and try to get a better understanding. 

After discussing it with another friend later that week, they recommended a documentary called The Origin Of The Sambo, The Coon, And The Mammy (Ethnic Origins). I watched it. And in less than 60 minutes I learned how African-Americans had been portrayed negatively in all aspects of media from books to cartoons. Things I innocently loved. Even Bugs Bunny. And at that moment I realized my perceived innocence was true ignorance, and for my entire life I had been taking in images and scripts meant to mock and suppress an entire group of people. 

Mind you. I grew up in a home where the N-word was never used, which I’m sure a lot of white people can say. For as long as I can remember I always had multi-cultural friends. I get white-privilege… Hell, before this experience I even attended BLM meetings from time to time looking for ways to help and become a true ally. So here I am thinking I’m a “woke” white woman, and I’m clueless. I am an UNINTENTIONAL RACIST, and I am literally sick about it. 

What do I do?

How do I change it?

My friend, Carlton, says we need to change the narrative, literally. So, I this year decided I would donate some pro-black esteem books to the local school libraries. Then, it hit me – we could turn this into a charity! So the charity, trueNARRATIVE, is in the works. We hope to focus on changing the way African-Americans are portrayed in the media, history, and advertising. I hope my Uncle Ovid is looking down smiling that I finally got a clue last week. A reminder to everyone to keep an open mind and open dialogue when discussing race. Through understanding, we can ignite change.

J Lucas – I’m Not A Racist… The LCR Responds

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Whenever most people hear a white person say the word “nigga” or “nigger,” they usually stop what they’re doing and commit their full attention to that person. And if you’re Black, you most likely are instantly enraged and probably ready to physically confront that person about why they thought it was okay to use that word. Well in a controversial video from rapper Joyner Lucas, he presents a middle-aged, overweight, white male, with a Trump-sponsored “Make America Great Again” hat on, who takes it there and is met with a strong response. His diatribe is full of negative stereotypes regarding African-Americans. If you can stomach the first few minutes of this video, and that’s a strong “if”, this might be the one instance where a white man repeatedly using the “N” word gets a pass – or maybe not. Either way, if this video makes you challenge your bias or thoughts of others, perhaps it serves its purpose.

If you haven’t seen it, the video is below. We asked several of our contributors to weigh in, and here’s what they had to say…

 “Spending a few minutes watching a video showcasing a large bearded white man wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat while lip syncing disparaging remarks about black people isn’t my ideal form of entertainment or learning. After resisting the urge to cut the video off, I did watch it in its entirety and conclude the message is spot on, for two basic reasons. The viewpoint of many non (and Black Americans) is the ills of Black people today in 2017 are isolated and removed from racism. The second viewpoint is despite self responsibility and/or success, systematic racism still derails Black progress in this country. From beauty standards to credit scores, the nation has structures designed without Black people in mind or specifically designed to go against Black people. Like the video, will people turn it off upon first view and stay the same, or will we as nation watch all of it and use it to get better.” – Independent Texan Male

“As an African American woman, the first verse made me so upset because it was just full of stereotypes. Inside I was screaming I’m not lazy! Where’s your suit? There are plenty of great black fathers! Ever heard of institutionalized racism? Then the second verse came on and I saw where the video was going and my heart rate slowed down and I started to breathe again. This video highlights the essence of what is wrong with America. No one has discussions with others with the intent on seeking understanding. We are so focused and getting our pain out. We don’t take a step back to see what it’s like to live in someone else’s shoes. We cast judgement on a community based on the opinions of those who aren’t a part of, nor living, in said community.  We all need to have more conversations like this to start moving the country in the right direction.” – Left Healthcare Professional

“How can we acknowledge a problem unless we address it honestly and accurately? When something as poisonous as racism is endemic in our society, it has to be addressed. That’s why this Joyner Lucas video is truly art. I was enraged, provoked, challenged, and inspired. Both sides spoke with extreme, intentionally offensive candor to represent the racist animosities that this country should A. Acknowledge and B. Work diligently to abolish. There is truth on both sides somewhere in the fog of historically fueled resentment. We are all races here now and must find a way to not just coexist, but thrive with one another. Despite initial appearances to the contrary, this video is working towards that end.” – Unaffiliated Humanist Musician

“I feel so strong about this video; yet I’m finding it difficult to find the words to describe the reasons why. To me, this was a visual depiction of someone’s comment section under a Facebook status. I’ve seen this argument many times over the last year and some change. When I see people arguing online, it’s clear that the two people going back and forth are not even bothering to read the other person’s comments for comprehension. People are only looking for points to rebut. This is a great reminder to us all that sometimes when you stop and listen, you may be able to at least achieve a level of understanding with one another. We all need to stop coming to the table to argue and instead come willing to listen and learn.” – Center Left HR 

Your perspective is important, let us know what you think.

Reflection… When Trolling Backfires

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Two weeks ago, a New Jersey high school decided to travel to Washington DC to tour our Nation’s capital. Lunch at Howard University’s Bethune Annex Cafeteria was on their schedule, and two of their female students decided to wear Trump tee shirts and Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats during their visit. Needless to say, or I wouldn’t be writing about this, their experience did not go as smoothly as planned. The two girls would later post a lengthy tweet detailing the “harassment and racism” they experienced while on campus. Howard University’s social media accounts were in an uproar and many alt-right and Trump supporters responded posting negative comments on every post mentioning Howard University.

This incident is nothing more than trolling gone bad.

Founded in 1867, Howard University, is a private research university comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Most importantly, Howard University is a Historically Black College/University (HBCU). HBCUs were created in the post civil-war era as institutions of higher learning where African Americans were welcome to attend, at a time when most Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) banned Blacks from stepping foot on campus. For years, HBCUs have provided African Americans a safe space to learn and grow without the constant second-guessing because of the color of our skin. As an alumnus of an HBCU, I will say an added benefit is learning more about Black American and African history that is not traditionally taught in school. Learning this history establishes pride and teaches you to love your Blackness, though the world tries to convince you it’s a negative.

Knowing this history of Howard University – what made these girls, White girls at that, think parading around an HBCU in Trump and MAGA paraphernalia was a good idea… a week after Trump refused to immediately denounce white supremacists in a press conference following the Charlottesville incident? Maybe that’s the problem, they didn’t know the history of HBCUs, which is indeed a part of American history. It has been noted that black students on the tour advised them not to go on Howard’s campus wearing that particular shirt and hat. Also, some upperclassmen who saw the girls walking towards the Annex cafeteria told them it’s best not to wear that shirt and hat on campus simply because Howard University is an HBCU. The two girls, unfortunately, chose not to heed the multiple warnings, which makes many people believe their true intentions were to bait a reaction out of the Howard students (in true troll fashion).

I am sick of hearing the freedom of speech/expression excuse when a person is blatantly disrespectful. Just because you can say and do what you want does not mean you are free of consequences and get to play the victim. If you choose to not pay your taxes, that is perfectly fine as it is your choice. However, there is a high probability that you are eventually going to jail. If you walk down the street in an area where there is a lot of gang activity wearing the opposing gang members’ colors, be prepared for the backlash. These girls were warned yet they chose to be disrespectful and offensive in someone’s house, disturbing their peace. Just as it is viewed as disrespectable for an American woman to walk around in a Muslim country wearing booty shorts and a low-cut shirt, it is just as offensive to walk around an HBCU wearing paraphernalia of a man who refuses to denounce white supremacists, but wants to bring back Stop and Frisk (a tactic which disproportionately targets African Americans). I blame their chaperones, the supposed adults, on the trip as well. Why did they not say anything to these girls? Why were they not inclined to have a conversation about etiquette and courtesy in someone else’s space? Why did they not do research on the history of Howard University if they planned to visit the campus? Were these teachers not trained in cultural sensitivity? I have so many questions for these so-called adults. Overall, there is too much political correctness in letting the oppressor continue his oppression, and Howard University students weren’t about to sit around and be trolled in their safe space without speaking up for themselves.

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Remove Confederate Statues? The LCR Responds…

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The descendants of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson have stated that confederate statues should be removed. Yet, many American’s still have mixed feelings about the statues and their place in society. Municipalities and institutions are scrambling trying to figure out what to do. Last week, the City of Baltimore and the University of Texas decided to remove their confederate statues overnight. Our contributors share their thoughts about the meaning of the statues, and what we should do with them…

“They say the victor writes history; however, when it comes to the Civil War, the monuments tell a different story. We need to stop paying homage to men who inspired the hate we saw in Charlottesville. If we keep the monuments in place, it creates the impression that we pay homage to those men that represented oppression and hate. If we look to move past history to a state of respect and equality, we need to remove them, acknowledge the facts of slavery and the negative effects we still see today.” – Center Single Mom

“We’ve been holding on to the past for way too long. It’s time to remove those statues so that there isn’t a constant reminder of the ugly times of our past. Instead of holding on to those statues, we should be examining why they mean so much in the first place. Why are some people so intent on holding on to symbols of oppression from the past? Is it because they aren’t ready for that time to be over? If that’s not it, then why the resistance? It should be understood that those statues and monuments represent an ugly period of time in our country’s history. Those statues are the manifestation of hate for a disenfranchised group of people that never deserved the ire to begin with. If we truly want to move past that time, the statues need to go. No one needs that constant reminder of a time charged with hate. It’s time to let it go.” – Center Left HR

“Union North won the American Civil War, slavery ended, and the USA attempted to move forward together with the Confederate South even after unspeakable violence. Imagine continuing to exist in a country where your ideas are not just rejected, but physically beaten out of existence. It can’t be easy for the surviving losers. Consequently, the Confederate monuments were probably meant to be pacifiers for the defeated Southerners and their “way of life” (heavily built around slavery). However, none of those Confederates are still alive (even if their grandchildren are), and slavery is an abhorrent idea rejected entirely by more than 99% of the population. Now these monuments only stand to encourage racism and antagonize black Americans who share the same rights as everyone else to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.” – Unaffiliated Humanist Musician

“Confederate statues belong in museums not public squares. The difference between statues of George Washington or Thomas Jefferson and statues of Robert E. Lee or Jefferson Davis is that the former never waged war against the United States. It’s also important to remember that many of these statues are not meant to be historic monuments – they were erected to intimidate African Americans. There is an important distinction between remembering the dark parts of our history and glorifying them.” – Center Left College Student

When Trump held his press conference after the Charlottesville incident, in a facetious tone he hinted towards removing statues of George Washington as well. An important question – is the fight to maintain confederate monuments rooted only in reminding black people of their ancestors being enslaved? I’m not sure, but that seems to be reason they were erected in first place. Perhaps a better question – will the inability of our political leaders to listen and understand the perspectives of all Americans, and not just their voting base, cause us to one day extol another in stone, despite great ambivalence amongst our citizens?” – Independent Atlanta Teacher 

LCR Perspective: Kaepernick Vs. The NFL

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“Patriotism… Who Am I And Where Do I Belong?”

by with No Comment CultureFeatured

July 4th is approaching. People are forced to think about the state of this country, its leadership, the relationships it has with other countries and whether or not its accomplishments are actually a reason to celebrate this holiday, which represents independence and freedom.

As I think about all of this red, white and blue, I ask myself, “What am I celebrating?” Is this holiday really about my people and me? Are African Americans truly considered to be a significant part of this country? In spite of all of the contributions we have made to this country, is our citizenship really worth anything?

When I look at communities overridden with poverty, drugs and a lack of fair and equitable education systems, and legal systems set up to fail people as opposed to help them, the black and brown people in these communities are suffering. The great system is set up to benefit others; yet, it plant seeds of inequality, self-hatred and slavery in our communities. People’s lives look more hopeless than hopeful and day-by-day the picture seems bleaker and darker.

I sit from a perspective of “privilege”, some would say. “You don’t experience these things”’ and “You have beaten the odds”. I wish that were absolutely true, I respond. My skin color makes me no less hated, but my drive to exist and succeed in spite of- is what separates me from others. And while the outside looks polished and stable, my inside is crumbling from seeing my people self destruct because they cannot recognize all of the traps that are being set for them through broken educational systems and cultural “norms” such as music and social media. Our children’s minds are being captured, just as our enslaved ancestors’ bodies were. And although we walk around “free” as if we enjoy the same luxury as others… we are not free; thus, where is the patriotism in that?

This country represents ultimate greed. It bullies other countries and takes their resources. Wars are fought over property…not principle.  Even the wealth that is acquired when we are successful isn’t for Black people. We merely exist in a place where we were dumped after we were stolen. And our true culture and heritage is trampled on and made to seem nonexistent more and more everyday. Black children have nothing to identify with culturally, so who are they? And if they don’t know who they are, then where are they going?

Patriotism… who am I and where do I belong?