Show Up Then

Note:  I’m changing my publish time from midnight to something in the morning. You’re welcome.

I did not read the book, see the play, or see the movie.  I won’t use the title because I’ont want folks coming here looking to discuss the movie.  (Yo, I have NO idea what movie I was writing about.  Not nary idea.) Instead, I’d like to discuss the uproar about the portrayal of Black men in the movie.  Please keep in mind that I am currently reading (when I go to the salon and am not busy running my mouth and tweeting), Eugene Robinson’s Disintegration.  SoJo and Ted are supposed to be reading it too so we can have an e-book club.  Feel free to join up.  (I am 100% this book club never happened because they both suck.)

Basically ER’s book is one about ‘class’ (socioeconomic) in the Black community and how it has changed the landscape of ‘Black’ in America.  And I find the discussions about the movie are broken down that way.  The middle class men, the ones with the biggest complaint, don’t want to be lumped into the same category of the men in the movie.  This is interesting because some of the same behaviors they complained were displayed in the movie are the very same behavior that cross class.  Furthermore, for all the anger about Black men’s portrayal in media, there doesn’t seem to be that same level of outrage for what’s going on with Black men in America. (Now there is but only if you are paying attention.)

All the behaviors in the movie (I’m basing this on what other’s have written), are behaviors that the men don’t complain, get outraged, when their friends and associates are doing those exact things.  When their friends are abusive (verbally, emotionally, and physically), to women where is their outrage?  When their sons are womanizers, where’s the outrage?  When the young men within their reach are making babies, not providing for them financially or emotionally, where’s the outrage?

Where is the outrage when nasty articles are written about Black women?  Hell even in the blogosphere, I’m surprised that men are such sheep who only get up in arms about things if they feel it directly affects how they are viewed.

(Sad thing is that I wrote this nearly six years ago.  The movie doesn’t matter cus the observation is the same.  The selfishness only allows them to see things that directly impact their personal existence.  Women are taught to care about things beyond themselves.  Aint nothing changed.)

I’ont feel like finishing this but I think y’all get the point.