An A for Effort but an F for Timing in Oprah Town Hall

1. To Sister Malcolm, you need to pull your head out of Oprah's azz. I agree with Marcus. When Oprah asked Al Sharpton why the media doesn't cover this issue Al shot back "You're more qualified to answer that than I am". She kept stating over and over again that no one was dealing with this issue and that's a lie. Oprah ignored this issue even though the white children of her audience are the ones fueling gangster rap. Oprah is nothing but a hypocrite. She game 40 million for that African school stating poor black children don't care about education but hired that illiterate idiot fantasia to star in her Broadway show the color purple, even though she can't read! All she does, like most wealthy blacks do, is gave money to charity for the purpose of a tax write off and publicity. But when it comes to jobs and econimic investments, that's for whites only.

David at 9:44AM on Apr 17th 2007

2. I got the chance to see most of the show and thought the conversation was good. I am glad Oprah provided a forum so that folks were able to sit and have the discussion. It seemed they were able to 'agree to disagree' on elements of the problem, but all seemed to agree that there IS a problem. I am proud that there was no loud arguing, finger-pointing or name-calling. Too often this is the very type 'drama' that is associated with African-Americans and it's important that we are able to conduct ourselves with dignity and respect.

I am also glad that others are not 'sick' of the story. If there is any 'sickness' I think it is that the issue has been allowed to ferment this long in the community. And, lest we forget Oprah is human like everyone else. To be rich in money, doesn't mean that the spirit is any less vulnerable.

In my opinion, this should not be an argument used to boost ratings or prove that one is better or wiser than another. It's not about posturing and loud talk. What it needs to be is a continuous discussion. We should always talk about those images that represent and impact our community. In my thoughts Common may be on board today to represent another side of rap. After all, we are not monolithic in voice or interests, but it seems the question is where do 'we' draw the line in the pursuit of money?

Cheri at 9:55AM on Apr 17th 2007

3. Ok ok...This topic is gettin' OLD very fast...It's drawn out and allways circles back to the same things. White racisit guys says somthing, black "leaders" get into it, then question how blacks treat blacks, Oprah says something that divides African-Americans and Africans and people argue. It'll be the same story with another person starting it in a few months...I know one thing..

Black people never let any thing die...

and now IMUS will have his own show on satillite radio and make more comments and more MONEY than ever thanks to us making him more popular than a horny hooker at a sex addicts convention.

~Tha Centop~

Tha Centop at 9:57AM on Apr 17th 2007

4. Frankly, every white public entertainer should know by now that if they dare say something derogatory about African Americans, it will immediately raise hackles everywhere. Never mind what African Americans say about whites or even each other. White people can say nearly anything about other whites. I really can't understand it.

jean humphreys at 9:57AM on Apr 17th 2007

5. Another Excellent Blog Today Marcus!!! Keep Up The Good Work!!

MissCoCo at 10:00AM on Apr 17th 2007

6. EXCELLENT READING FOR MARCUS:

In GHETTONATION, Daniels discusses her OWN GHETTO MENTATLITY. She explores how corporate America (Whitlock, Marcus and others) EXPLOITS GHETTONESS as a means to MAKE MONEY despite its DISTURBING RAMIFICATIONS.

She talks to people who EMBRACE GHETTO because its the IN THING TO DO and she chats with people WHO REALIZE that a GHETTO MENTALITY IS SELF-DEFEATING.

GHETTONATION is by Cora Daniels. Get it Marcus.

SisterMalcolm at 10:02AM on Apr 17th 2007

7. You're young, Marcus. You haven't yet matured into the intelligent and insightful grown man that hopefully, you will one day.

For you, it's all about appearances. Who speaks the loudest. Who is closer to your own personal biases, no matter how poorly thought out.

You're stuck in the Jerry Springer and Wannabe Culture, where posturing and thining your own ignorance is "cutting edge" is seen as revolutionary.

SisterMalcolm at 10:04AM on Apr 17th 2007

8. the Rev(Sharpton) speaks about lot of things that could have easily been swept under someones rug,so show some respect.Oprah is ot ignorant,she is very well educted,some you are angry because you truly wish to remain ignorant, and blind.

carley at 10:04AM on Apr 17th 2007

9. Every since that ignorant Oprah Winfrey has been brainwashed AND CONNED by africans she CONSTANTLY criticizes our black american children, families and our black american men for being on downlow, disrespecting women by calling them hos, ETC. ETC., BUT SHE NEVER SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT THE WORST MEN ON THE PLANET - AFRICANS WHO CUT THE CLIT OF THEIR WOMEN SO THEY CAN'T ENJOY SEX, HAVE MULTIPLE WIVES, AND COMMIT ALL KINDS OF HORRIBLE MADNESS AND MAYHEM AGAINST WOMEN.

I JUST CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THESE AFRICANS SHE LOVES SO MUCH GIVES HER EXACTLY WHAT SHE DESERVES. IT SEEMS THEY ALREADY STARTED FROM THE REPORTS COMING OUT OF THAT $40 MILLION RIP OFF.

THE WORST BLACK AMERICAN MAN IN THE GHETTO IS BETTER THAN THE BEST AFRICA HAS TO OFFER.

Gene at 10:04AM on Apr 17th 2007

10. Ok Folks, so you say you are tired of hearing about the Imus thing,,,,well when will you get tired of hearing about Anna Nicole Smith??? Maury P could have told them who the baby daddy was in 48 hrs, talk about drama and it is still going on. You got upset because Barrack Obama had said nothing about the Imus thing,, then he did!!! Now you want to bash Oprah for doing a town hall meeting about the Imus thing. She was bashed for years because she would not have rappers on her show,,,,No other TV personality could have put together such a diverse group of people to bring awareness of past and present actions of people as a whole, whether it be black on black or to at least ask the question "What Now" So come on folks, decide to be part of the problem or part of the solution. You can not have it both ways. Take a look into your own homes, stop buying the ugly music, stop using the "N" word, take a look at your own behavior towards other human beings no matter what the color. It is time to protect your soul. Let no one or nothing put a whole in any part of it.

Deb at 10:06AM on Apr 17th 2007

11. It's a sad day in America when the NRA has more power over Guns Laws than the lawmakers who we elect to regulate and protect each American's safety. When you really look to someone to blame for yesterday's tragedy at Va Tech, look no further than our spineless, money hungry lawmakers that suppose to represent each of us. We as a people, black, white or multi racial should hold our elective officials responiosble and accountable for the weak gun laws and easy access to guns in this country. In a few months the Va Tech Tragedy will be old news and our Lawmakers will continue to take money from the highest bidder (lobbyist)to create weak and meaninless laws to make Big Business richer and the powerful more powerful!! The real Tragedy here are the American people, we don;t get involved, we only speak out when there are headlines or tragedy, start holding your local, state of federal elective official accoutable? "Wake up America, stop reacting and become proactive"!!

Fred Pharr at 4:28PM on Apr 17th 2007

12. I WANT TO KNOW WHEN THE OPRAH WINFREY'S AND BILL COSBY'S OF THE WORLD ARE GOING TO CREATE AN INDUSTRY THAT LIFTS OUR BLACK MEN OUT OF POVERTY, LIKE SOME DECENT WHITE MAN DID WHEN HE CREATED THE RAP INDUSTRY THAT SHE IS TRYING TO DESTROY.

SHE'S WRONG AND DIRTY FOR TRYING TO DO THAT. SEX SELLS - EVERYONE KNOWS THAT. EVEN HER. WHY DON'T SHE ATTACK THE GIRLS GONE WILD PRODUCER AND TRY TO PUT HIM OUT OF A JOB FOR MAKING WHITE WOMEN LOOK LIKE LESBIAN HOS???? WHY DON'T SHE ATTACK THE PORN INDUSTRY THAT MAKES WHITE WOMEN RICH??? WHY DID SHE DO SMUT SHOWS WHEN YOU WAS YOUNGER???

SHE IS THE KIND OF N WORD THAT WILL GIVE A PERSON A FISH BUT WON'T TEACH HIM HOW TO FISH.

ALL THIS EDUCATION SHE'S PUSHING IS GOOD BUT IT IS NO GUARANTEE OF A JOB. SHE SHOULD BE CREATING JOBS JUST LIKE THE RAP INDUSTRY DID.

A HEAD FULL OF USELESS KNOWLEDGE DOES NOT PUT DINNER ON THE TABLE. POOR MARTIN LUTHER KING DIED FOR NOTHING.

AFRICANS SHOULDN'T BE GIVEN ANYTHING UNTIL THEY CLEAR UP ALL THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. SANCTIONS SHOULD BE WAGED AGAINST THEM FOR CONTINUING TO ENSLAVE PEOPLE, CORRUPTION SO BAD THAT EVEN THEY FLEE TO AMERICA TO ESCAPE IT, CUTTING PEOPLE'S ARMS OFF FOR VOTING, MASS GENOCIDE, DEVIL WORSHIP, CUTTING WOMEN'S CLITS OUT SO THEY CAN'T ENJOY SEX, MASS INTERNET CRIMES. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH ALL THAT EDUCATION SHE IS GIVING THEM - USE IT TO DESTROY THE WORLD AND DO EVIL. SHE IS A COMPLETE FOOL AND FOOLS LIKE HER ARE GOING TO HELP DESTROY THE WORLD. SHE'S GOING TO GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE BIGGEST FOOL OF ALL TIME. BIGGER THAN MICHAEL JACKSON AFTER HE STARTED RUNNING DOWN TO SEE NELSON MANDELA AND SOUTH AFRICA - THE CRIME CAPITAL OF THE ENTIRE WORLD.

JAMES at 6:04PM on Apr 17th 2007

13. I just want to say, white people are NOT interested in our Black issues. We have to start to somewhere. Tell me what TV show would of covered this type of topic? Other than one of the Black Talk Show. HAVE YOU CAME UP WITH ANY THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE THAT MAY NOT HAVE CABLE? Another thing what Oprah does with her money is her bussiness. That's not the issue, it's petty. We always focus on the wrong stuff.The topic is we need to stop disrespecting others it is not ok. Men, Women and now our young will disrespect our old. GOD is not pleased.

Althea at 6:35PM on Apr 17th 2007

14. I saw this Town Hall and I wasn't thrilled. Oprah tried to turn it into an anti-male thing. The guys on the panel got applause when they hyped the sensitive side of the argument. Somebody needs to call Oprah out because the issue of exploitation works both ways. I was a guest on an old talk show with Robin Smith. I was fired by Red Cross for no reason and I dragged my family to TV to fix our life. They created "Beauty and the Beast". As a Black man, I was clearly the beast. They hyped the angle of verbal abuse and I got dismissed again. We argued because I couldn't explain why I was fired and the kid started acting out. I confessed to having a problem and they exploited me. Robin Smith practically ran away from me like I was "The Beast". By the grace of God, my poetry makes people go to bed uncomfortable. I'm also at the bottom of the Imus and Rosie stories. One person can make a difference, but getting credit is another thing. I'm ready to go on Oprah anytime.

Cecil Jones at 6:36PM on Apr 17th 2007

15. My response to an AOL article on Oprah entitled A for Effort...F for Timing

I totally agree with the author..As a student journalist--I find that her generalizations, poor use objectivity and band wagon approach to controversial issues in the African American Community is a disgrace--she is a dis-service to the media. She appeared at my college (Bennett College for Women) last fall and held a closed discussion which she taped about life lessons--and how she claimed to live her life on her knees. She even said that she felt like a modern day Sojourner Truth.
Bennett College is one of two historically black colleges for women and a few years ago we were on probation due to financial reasons. Thanks to some strong campaigning by our president we are no longer on probation--yet the need is always there—as it is with a few HBCU’s and schools in general.
When Oprah came to our campus it was a big deal, the gala following was even bigger as people paid up to $5oo to attend. The gala is one of our annual fundraising events.
Oprah said that her time with us was her gift.
Thanks.
The conversation began about her life lessons but eventually shifted to her infamous Hip-Hop bashing campaign. This journalist (choking here) said that we were the only race of people that allow ourselves to be degraded in music and dance to it.. Of course some sisters got up to defend Hip Hop because its become synonymous with attacking our generation. Four or Five girls spoke—each having a different view on the topic. Some saying they listen to hip, a few saying they don’t.
In any light--we as students dismissed the conversation and thought nothing of it--besides The fact that it dominated what was supposed to be her living your best life presentation...
Dominating in the sense that she controlled the conversation. I find it amazing that as a journalist (choking again) she has a problem with listening.
The dialogue was full of HER assertions and viewpoints on hip hop and our generation--not ours...
Well as the Hoopla ended--we as students adjusted back to life after Oprah…. until her comment on her "After the Show" late night addition appeared.
On this particular episode which featured Magic Johnson and others discussing the topic of AIDS and sex in the African American Community, Oprah said that as she was visiting this all black women’s school last week and the girls there said that it was okay for people to call them bitches and ho’s--- that we think Martin Luther King Jr. was a speech….. and that she had to tell us who we are…because apparently we don’t know……….Interesting isn’t it?
Especially since she once again made a generalization---she once again heard things as she wanted to…and once again proved that her ratings and ridiculous comments are more important than media…or how about sisterly responsibility…
Even if we had..which we didn’t make those comments—as a sister was the right thing to put us on blast and say that we don’t know who we are…
Well we responded---we didn’t leak it to the media…we didn’t write her letters—we sent her a video stating why as Bennett Belles we do not stand for being called bitches or Ho’s…We came together, as my sister said, that was the best gift she left…And together as a whole we said—we know this woman is human—we know humans make mistakes—and we’re better and more unified because of it..And I still support those stances…yet I can and will not support her lack of poor journalism and her self righteous campaigns that are to little and to late.
It was interesting to me how she featured Spelman on her show. Not hating—I applaud my Spelman sisters for speaking out against Nelly—and they represented as they always do…I just thought it would have been a fine time to show our video or to even mention that there are some sisters out there outside of Spelman—that don’t support the degradation of our women in this culture. No offense to the panel because they did their thing as well—but they are not the ones affected by Hip-Hop nor the ones that support it…We are. My generation and the change won’t come until we accept the load to which we must carry. Feature us on shows---feature the rappers..the musicians ..hear their voice. How can you fix something you won’t face? A group of well educated panelist discussing the matter won’t change something. It will get the topic out there and possibly open the door—but tearing down the wall, that’s our job. I’m sure that’s something O won’t realize…but I thank God some of us do…



(go to her after the show website…just scroll down to the show on 11/4/06—with Magic Johnson and AIDS you can see the comment)

Tiffany Lindsay at 6:42PM on Apr 17th 2007