Michael Jackson, The Whole Man

Is it good manners?   Is it out of some sense of politeness that every column I've read about Michael Jackson makes a brief bow to the latter half of his life, then moves on to massage every detail of his splendid, brilliant early career?   As in: whatever you want to say about the weird thing he became, you have to appreciate how he electrified the world with Thriller.*   Is it good manners or is it that we don't want to face what his gruesome demise might say about us?  About our culture, I could say, except we can't just dis the culture without taking some responsibility.

How do we understand what happened to him? 

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Reading "Henrietta Lacks"

Updated on Friday, June 8, 2012 at 4:47PM by Elena Taurke

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks might be the saddest book I've ever read.   If you don't know this story, here's the bottom line:  A Black woman's cancer cells were taken and cultured without her permission and, because of their superhuman ability to thrive, spawned all variety of discovery and cure.  She died, her disease almost neglected; her family remains dirt poor and deeply uneducated.  In the absence of information from the scientists who benefited from Henrietta's cells, the family creates stories of heroism or victimization, depending on what's going on that day.  What is usually going on is a fight for survival against overwhelming odds.

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I need a DO OVER! (guest post)

An email from my friend, John:

Hey folks:

Today's lesson: Stick with your own kind.  I know it sounds harsh but sometimes the consequences for not doing so can be quite intense.  Black men should go to Black barbers.

It all began when I got my locks roots re-tighened about 2 weeks ago. It's so tough to find a really good black hair salon without the hair salon drama which seemly only occurs in the black salons. Anyway,

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Mahogany

Here's a funny story:

My daughter and husband are shopping for a birthday card for me.  They see a yellow card with sparkly flowers.  The text reads:  Today is a day for celebrating you and the wonderful mother you are…Today is a day to celebrate everything about you.  Your warmth, your wisdom…your beauty and spirit.  Today is a day for telling you how proud and grateful I am to have you for a mother.  Happy Birthday With Love.

The beige woman at the counter says:  "Are you sure you want to buy this card?"  They are puzzled.  What is the problem?   She replied:  "It’s for black people."   She pointed at the card.  "See, Mahogany,  for black people."   I guess black people love their mothers differently.

Are you laughing?

March 2011