Kamala Harris: An American Black?

Conservatives, White Supremacists, foreign adversaries (using bots), and anyone Black or White who does not know or is uneducated about the intricate history of identity and the Black man/woman in America need not use social media to alert Americans of African descent (formerly Afro-Americans, Coloreds, Negroes) who is a “real” American Black. Is Louis Farrakhan not a “real” American Black because his mother was born in Saint Kitts and Nevis, and his father was born in Jamaica? Is Malcolm X not a “real” American Black because his mother is from Grenada? Is Civil Rights activist and World War II veteran Harry Belafonte not an American Black because his parents were born in Jamaica? Or should we not consider Sidney Poitier whose parents are from the Bahamas a “real” American Black? Shirley Chisolm is an American Black and her parents were born in the Caribbean.  And for the record, according to my definition, Senator Kamala Harris is an American Black. 

        Most Black people in America are aware of their often multi-racial roots. There are many American Blacks who have African, European, Native American, and African diasporic roots. Some of our ancestors were enslaved; some were not. Informed Black people cast aside the residual Willie Lynch chains which inhabited their colonized minds, and do not accept definitions of “American Black” by those who contemptuously strive to divide the Black community.

In the 1600s and throughout the 1800s, depending upon the state, an American Black was one with African Ancestry. In the early 20th century, The Racial Integrity Act and laws patterned after it, defined one as Black if he had one drop of African blood. Those laws effectively created a system that categorized people by color, more so than by DNA. Therefore, many people of color, regardless of their ethnicity, have similar lived experiences.

        Initially, American Blacks had roots in slavery in the U.S.; however, in the mid-twentieth century with the migration of laborers from the Caribbean and after the Civil Rights Act in 1964, an American Black became more than one with roots in American slavery. Many African Americans learned and understood, during the Black Power and Black Arts Movements, their connectedness to the African diaspora. They acquired knowledge of Mahatma Gandhi’s fight against colonization and the commonalities they had with oppressed people around the world. After exploring the untold stories in their history, they realized they had relatives who were placed in the Caribbean, Brazil, and other areas of the Middle Passage. This awakening led to an embrace of their Caribbean and South American brethren. The African American community redefined “Black” and the category became inclusive, not exclusive. 

            Currently, and since the Civil Rights era, an American Black is an African American or one with African ancestry who is born in or has migrated to America. This includes people from the African Diaspora who have become citizens of the United States and may or may not have assimilated into the culture of African Americans. African Americans are American Blacks, but they are distinguished by their culture and their roots in slavery and the Jim Crow era.

Senator Harris is an American Black with African diasporic roots. Her parents may not have been born in America, but her father gave her the “drop of African blood,” and her mother embraced African American culture and without negating her own heritage, engaged her daughters in the culture of African Americans. Born in America, Harris has the lived experience of an African American with multi-ethnic roots. She did not “hijack” Black history; she lived it. 

            When Senator Harris addressed Vice-President Biden and started speaking of the little colored girl who endured the indignities of busing, I knew she was referring to herself before she made it apparent. I was not surprised because I read her memoir (The Truths We Hold: An American Journey) and knew how she perceived herself. She is American. She is Black. Based upon her roots and her lived experience, she is a “real” American Black. 

Michael Jackson said it does not matter if one is Black or White. However, in some circles of American society, it matters. There will always be those who engage in a narrative which is divisive. There will always be insecure bigots and racists who promote hatred and blame. I am patriotic, and I value our multi-ethnic Union.

There is a diverse group of intelligent Americans who want to lead our great country. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Secretary Julian Castro, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Vice-President Joe Biden, and yes - Senator Kamala Harris and many others. I am an American. I am Black. I am a woman, and I vote. I research the backgrounds of Presidential candidates and listen to the debates. As I have never discriminated against a Presidential candidate because he or she is White, I will never discriminate against Senator Harris (or any candidate) because she is Black. Despite her ethnicity, she is first and foremost an American.

Email: Glenda@GlendaRTaylor.com

               

Let’s Talk About Race

Many have called for the resignation of Governor Ralph Northam. I am torn. I am not ashamed to say I am conflicted. I understand the pain and horror of the African Americans who call for his resignation as they internally quiver from the “memories” that pour forth from their DNA. I understand the embarrassment of some Caucasians as they are reminded of this shameful and foul aspect of our joint American history. I understand the democrats who are embarrassed that one of their own has been outed as participating in this despicable racist act. Though the story is still evolving, all agree it is outrageous that a 25 year old college educated man, whether it was Northam or another young man, was willingly photographed in a KKK uniform, and the yearbook editors found it fit to publish. I understand the outrage and silent glee of some Republicans who act appalled at this Democrat’s deeds. For some of them, it is almost a breath of fresh air, as their party is  consistently blasted and reprimanded by Democrats and others for not fumigating the racist stench from their midst. The twenty-first century has seen the Republican Party tarnished by its silence and seeming acceptance of the racist attitudes and bigotry of party members.

I am a historian and I know the roots of coonery, coons, blackface and all of its racist underpinnings. I understand the pain and have witnessed the scars of this vile, mostly cloistered element of American history. My parents and my 13 aunts and uncles were victimized by Jim Crow and all of its stench. I am the daughter of southerners, and I grew up in the north during the great migration.

I am not detached from the heart-wrenching pain. I have listened to and read the stories. I have visited the museums and studied the unconscionable acts of many Americans who were born and lived through the early to mid-twentieth century. It is real. There are many elders Black and White who have haunting memories of this pre and post-Civil Rights era. If one were born in the 1930s, 1940s or 1950s, the stories of “Bombingham, Alabama” or The Ghosts of Mississippi are as close as yesterday.

At first, it is surprising to think that Northam who admired Michael Jackson (and probably listened to the many Jackson Five hits when he was a child), knew how to Moonwalk, and assuredly watched the videos and had in his music collection Michael Jackson’s declaration that “We Are The World” and “It does not matter if one is “Black or White,” would be caught in an act of blatant racism. Initially, it may seem bewildering that in 1984 a school yearbook or a college educated man would not understand or be sensitive to the fact that blackface or dressing as a member of the KKK was insensitive and morally despicable. Yet, Reverend Al Sharpton advises that the 1980s was not an era of innocence where racism was in the past. He reminds us (and Jermaine Jackson’s memoir, You Are Not Alone, confirms) that throughout The Jacksons record-breaking Victory tour the family was confronted by racism and death threats. The truth is that some of us need to look in our attics.

There is justified fury and indignation; however, it is time to pause and be honest.  For the majority of Americans who are Christian and are led by the words of Jesus, remember that Jesus said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” Can any White American with roots in this country honestly say that he nor any of his loved ones never participated in an act that would in the present day be considered racist, horrific or embarrassing? In the words of Joan Rivers, “Can we talk?”

Can any Black American with roots in this country say that he has not been in the presence of, supported or voted for a candidate that he knew in his heart was a racist? Do the holier-than-thou Democrats know the history of their party or remember that prior to the 1960s their party was the home of the KKK? Did the racism in the party suddenly dissipate with the Civil Rights Act? Did all of the racist Democrats suddenly seek redemption and ask for forgiveness from Black folks, following in the footsteps of Governor George Wallace?  How many of the outraged Republicans or Democrats have read or reviewed James’s Allen’s Without Sanctuary? Is it possible that a beloved grandparent, older sibling, aunt or uncle is pictured in a book which has vivid photographs of public lynchings where the onlookers are enjoying the occasion?

Governor Northam is only four years younger than I and one year older than my sister. He went to school in the South.  I went to school in the North and had WASP, Italian,  and Jewish classmates. Northam is said to have had Black classmates.  If the truth be told, during this period, it was not common for young people to discuss race and racism with people who were not within their race. The politics of racism was relevant, but it was not a central theme in a conversation with one’s white classmates. It was not until I was in my late 20s that I engaged in conversations about race with white and Jewish people. It was not until 2011 that I had a conversation with a professor who admitted her grandparents did not like her liberal attitudes and had ties to the KKK. She was honest. Her integrity was refreshing. I respected her for it, and I think she was somewhat relieved to confess her family’s past to a Black person who believes: Let he who judges be judged.

Today, no one will deny the actions by the Governor, or his classmates are reprehensible. If he is not the person in the picture, then his admission of wearing Blackface to represent Michael Jackson shows that he was either unbelievably ignorant or simply racist. He admits that though it was the 1980s, the times were different and things which are today unacceptable were the norm in his world. This is the truth and is evidenced by the images in his yearbook.

White people: Be outraged, but Check your attic. Check your memories and relationships with people of color. As governor Northam, what you or a loved one may have considered having fun or a joke may have been a blatant act of racism. Maybe, you have a clean record. However, how would you feel if one of your parents was outed for at minimum insensitive, vile racist behavior?  Black people: I know you are weary. The continuous onslaught of subtle and open racism is burdensome. The constant denials or suggestions that you are over sensitive because “He is not a racist,” is taxing. There must be balance; yet,   I know that when you smell racism seeping from one’s core or dripping from the heart of colleagues, it is unnerving. When the ignorant try to sanitize an American past that is quilted with a history whom most want to deny, bury or minimalize, it is difficult to pray your way through it as your ancestors. “We” forgave” Governor Wallace whose filmed record of racial brutality spoke for itself. This governor has no such record. Should he be forgiven? Does his record of public service or his policies shed light on his heart or is his alleged sorrow convenient? I am conflicted.

I say to all who have American roots what is in your closet? What is in your attic? Can your past deeds tolerate the media light?  At what point does one forgive? Can one who is a bigot or a racist serve “We the People,” and when “We the People” have an elected official guilty of an ignorant belief system, should he be asked to resign? Is one ever released from the burden of deplorable belief systems?

Governor, you made some African Americans question their trust of their white friends, wondering if they have friends or colleagues who are hiding something in their closets. Your conflicting statements, your understandable inability to admit your circle of friends included die-hard racists, your poor explanation of why you were referred to as “Coon man,” made you lose credibility in the eyes of all who could see behind the mask. If the truth be told, your admiration of Michael Jackson, your ability to do the Moonwalk,  your apology and acknowledgement that blackface was - is horrific, your conversation with your African American friend Seth does not reduce the disdain that many African Americans feel when they see your face or hear the pain in your voice. 

My fellow Americans: Let us talk about race. Let us talk about sexism, homophobia, and all forms of bigotry. Let us not pretend this ugly past has disappeared with the election of an African American President or a diverse Congress. Let us not pretend that we do not have family members or friends who, at some point in their lives, exhibited prejudice in some form or fashion which by today’s standards would be unacceptable. Who among us can say he or she has not been in the presence of someone who has said shameful things or made jokes about another ethnicity, homosexuals or another religion and sat quietly, not wanting to create conflict?  It is an uncomfortable conversation. It is hard. It can be embarrassing for some and very painful for others.  We cannot allow racist deeds to be ignored and minimized or be led by those who do not recognize the error of their ways. Yet, it is time we not throw away everyone who asks to be forgiven for that which he is sincerely ashamed. Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.

Glenda R. Taylor, Ph.D. is a cultural critic, poet, and the author of Corridors of Genius: Excavating The Consciousness, Creative Process, and Artistry of Michael Jackson.

Donna Summer on Broadway

 Summer, the Broadway musical, gets an 8 rating. Though the storyline is weak, the vocal performances are superb and make the show worth attending. Summer brings back memories of the late 1970s and the early 1980s, reminding the audience of the extraordinary music of the Disco Queen. It was impossible to keep still as the vocalists sang Summer’s many hits.  I left the show wondering what it would be like to see a similar musical with the music of Etta James, Ruth Brown, Dionne Warwick, Whitney Houston, and the one that is being planned for Michael Jackson. `The shows would all be great if the storylines are well-written and keep focused on the great music.  

 

Whitney 2018

  I saw Whitney 2018 and was disappointed. It was excruciatingly painful.  I expected to see a film that shed light on her talent and creative spirit. The movie in tabloidian style dug up new dirt and family secrets we did not need to know. Her powerful voice which still gives me goose bumps   when I hear it is incredible and was the only light in the film.

I would have loved to see Cissy Houston telling the secrets of how she nurtured Whitney’s talents. It would have been great to hear her siblings and colleagues speak of the methods Whitney used when she practiced    her craft. I would have enjoyed it if her cousin Dionne spoke of the tips she must have given Whitney regarding improving her techniques or what she told Whitney about how to best rise to the top of the mountain amidst the obstacles. I would have been happy to hear a conversation about Whitney’s humanitarianism. It would have felt good if the public learned that through her pain, she was a successful film producer as well as actress. The audience should have been reminded that though she had personal challenges, her films as well as her records were always successful. Her story is one of pain, but she made tremendous gains in an industry in which it is not easy for any artist, especially an African American female.  Throughout Whitney’s life, she tried to hold on to her faith and her Bible. I remember her saying this in her last Oprah Winfrey interview.  I do not remember this being mentioned in the film. There was only a clip of how she loved going to church in her early days.  The demons may have been following her, but she beat the odds and kept trying to rise again until her last days.

 

Whitney has a great legacy and the public narrative should not always center upon her marriage or her on-going challenges. It is time to see a film which focuses on her phenomenal gifts, the woman who helped to nurture it -Cissy Houston, the impact Whitney made as an artist, and the foundation she had as a member of the Drinkard family. That is the film I want to see.

It was shocking to read the July 23, 2018 People magazine article in which Cissy Houston and her niece Dionne Warwick gave a joint statement regarding the film. The film marketed as authorized by the estate is tainted by unconscionable practices. Whitney 2018 was shown to Cissy Houston only two days before its release to the Cannes Film Festival. How can the filmmakers wait to tell an elder only days before the film’s release that the film reports her deceased daughter was allegedly molested as a child, knowing that this is the first time she has been notified of this horrific crime against her little girl? How could this heart -breaking news been kept from Dionne who is the sister of the alleged perpetrator?   This smells like guile. This is not to suggest the revelations are false; only Whitney and Dee Dee know the truth. It seems that a” friend” or a personal assistant  whom Whitney “trusted” would have let Whitney’s mother know what she had revealed because revelations of this nature would most likely be used in the final footage. It, also, seems that the production of a credible narrative would have included commentary from Cissy Houston or Dionne Warwick regarding their knowledge or comments, if any, of the allegations. 

 

I am not naïve enough to believe in the 21^st century that the film would be devoid of tabloidian trinkets. However, I was expecting to see a film in the nature of what Spike Lee produced for the Jackson estate. Lee could have drawn from the tons of data available on Jackson’s personal life or found new allegations to texture the film; yet, he chose to focus on the artistry and the legacy of Jackson, not his painful, over-reported  personal life. Whitney was first and foremost an artist, an American Master, a daughter of an American master: Cissy Houston, the cousin of an American master: Dionne Warwick; born into a family of talented American artists; raised in the presence of America’s greatest artists; and married to a talented though controversial artist. When will this legacy be explored? Is Whitney Elizabeth Houston, an American Master,  whose  voice  makes me want to stand up and salute the flag when   she sings the Star Spangled Banner, not worthy of a film which documents her fine artistry, her pursuit of excellence,  and her still unsurpassable achievements??