White People Need To Stop Being Racists

This logo is as accurate as it is iconic.  PE#1.

Now that I have your attention, let me give some background on myself to explain why that I think that statement is 100% true: I grew up in a predominantly white school system.  I had a lot of white friends in my childhood, so I saw the good in white people.  I was oblivious to a lot of the atrocities in the U.S. because of the type of education that I received and the environment in which I was raised.

Then I went to an HBCU (Google it if you don’t know the acronym) and I met other people who looked like me who had totally different experiences growing up.  By the way, this is generally how one learns about the world.  Being exposed to all walks of life is what expands our way of thinking.  But, back to the topic at hand…

I spent a lot of my youth and some of my adult life explaining to minorities how “the conversation” about racism should be approached with white people.  I found myself speaking from a place that protected the good white people that I knew.  It took growing older in society to realize that they didn’t need me to defend them.  Their privilege alone gave them the protection that they needed.

The point I’m trying to make is that black people have no responsibility in stopping racism.  White people do.  And it’s always been that way despite how others have tried to spin it over and over again.  It’s not a woman’s responsibility to have “a discussion” with an abusive husband.  He just needs to recognize that he’s wrong and stop abusing her.  See how simple that is?  Problem solved.

We don’t need a table of “black leaders” to sit down and discuss why we shouldn’t be unlawfully shot by police, denied opportunities for leadership positions from being a CEO of a Fortune 500 company to being an NFL head coach, or refused loans and/or housing based solely on the fact that we are enriched with melanin.  Black people have complained for decades on the things that prevent us from truly being equals in this country, so there’s nothing new to talk about.  All white people have to do is stop doing it.  It’s just that simple.  Nothing else is required.

And for all white people who have done things to help promote the end of racism, I thank and applaud you.  We wouldn’t have made it this far without some of you.  But, you’re going to have to do more.  Because in order for you not to be unfairly grouped in with racists, you have to convince the racists to cut it out.  So, it looks like you have the responsibility of helping this madness end.  Not black people.

Stay Off Timelines That Offend You #BodyShaming

I just finished reading an article over at People about a young lady who claims she was body shamed.  Now, I’ll be the first to tell you that these “shaming” accusations that we see thrown around social media can be ridiculous to some.  However, at what point do we allow people to live their lives and deal with their own consequences?

Shalom Ifeanyi is a student at the Univ. of Cincinnati.  She posted some photos on her IG page that caught the eye of her volleyball coach.

The photos look extremely tame compared to what we see online these days.  But, her coach, Molly Alvey asked Ifeanyi to remove the photos because they showed too much of her breasts, despite the fact that she was fully-clothed in all of the photos.  Mix in the fact that some of her white teammates were allowed to pose in two-piece swimsuits and you have the formula for a discrimination lawsuit against the school.

Corporations and institutions need to stop policing people’s personal lives.  A person shouldn’t have to censor their personal online sites to comply by someone else’s standards.  They should be allowed to post at will and forced to deal with the consequences, if there are any.

I’ll be the first to tell you that people shouldn’t post online half of the things that they do, but they are responsible for their reputation, not me.  If I don’t like it, then I shouldn’t view it.  It’s just that simple!

Why are people so compelled to remove or ban something they’re not forced to look at in the first place?  And if you feel that it’s some sort of black eye to the reputation of your corporation or institution, then you’re the one with the problem.  Ifeanyi is a volleyball player.  If she shows up at a game wearing something deemed provocative, then at that point, discipline her as you see fit.  Other than that, she owes Univ. of Cincy nothing outside of the school system.

Companies need to stop selling the allusion that they’re only employing perfect people.  There are no perfect people.  And if the photo posted above is “too sexy” for Coach Alvey, then please don’t ever let her see some of the 2018 prom season photos that I saw on Facebook this month.  Her had would explode.

It’s sad that Miss Ifeanyi, who is a beautiful girl, has to endure this sort of attention for something that is ultimately so inconsequential to the Univ. of Cincy.  But, I guess that she realizes now that what she does as a black woman, right or wrong, will be scrutinized.

That’s just how we roll in America.

Leave @DemetriaObilor and Women Like Her Alone

Jan Shedd took to Facebook on Wednesday to call out Channel 8 in Dallas’ new traffic reporter, Demetria Obilor, who she said was a “size 16/18 woman in a size 6 dress.” 

“Has anyone seen Channel 8’s new morning traffic reporter? Her name is Demetria Obilor & she’s a size 16/18 woman in a size six dress and she looks ridiculous,” Shedd wrote in the now-deleted post.  — NY Daily News

Here we go again.  I can’t believe that in almost 2018, we still have to deal with the level of hate that we see in this country.  Then again, why should I be surprised?  Social media has given the haters of America the illusion of being experts in the criticism of their targets.

There’s a traffic ensemble anchor in Dallas, Texas by the name of Demetria Obilor.  As you can see by the photos, she’s extremely attractive.  However, that’s working against her in the eyes of some of her viewers.

Here’s the thing: you can be a TV personality and be attractive, but you have to do it by “societal standards”.

What does that mean?  You can’t be urban with it.  No extreme curves.  Booty, hips, and thighs need not apply when it comes to being a female sex symbol in the U.S.  In other words, you can’t be too black with it (despite the fact that some white women pay top dollar for surgical enhancements to “black it up”, for lack of a classier phrase).

We need to find a way to put a stop to this behavior.  First of all, she’s a news personality who is doing her job.  Just like all of us, she has a right to choose whatever profession that she wants.  And let’s throw in the fact that this Nigerian/American was born this way.  Why should she change who she is genetically because Jan Shedd and a few others think that she’s too hot for TV?  Should she wear a muumuu instead of a dress that fits?

Secondly, she has the right to flip her profession into whatever entrepreneurship she chooses.  That includes recognizing the fact that people are enamored with her looks and turning that into a modeling/speaking/hosting hustle.  I’m a firm believer in using what you got to get what you want.  That means she can be a news personality and a model simultaneously.

And lastly, when are we going to accept the fact that it’s okay for women to be sexy and respected at the same time?  Why does it have to be one or the other?  Can a lady be good-looking and knowledgeable?  Does credibility only come in a size 4 with straight blond hair and blue eyes?

Leave the Demetria Obilors and women like her alone.  Every year there’s someone different who catches backlash for having a banging body on a newscast (usually black or Latina).  Ironically, the criticism seems to come almost exclusively from women.  And ladies should be supporting her instead of tearing her down.

If  a shirtless Dwayne “Rock” Johnson did local weather, do you think guys would be on Facebook saying that it’s too much?  Hardly.  We’d either say that it was cool or we would just change the channel.

It’s time out for the foolishness, ladies.  Stop shaming these ladies just because your man is watching a lot more news than he did a few months ago.