Racism Is Alive And Well

I have avoided politics on this blog, but much of the comments that have gone on over the last month and a half, that are suppose to be political discourse are nothing more than typical racist bull. Anyone with half a brain should be able to figure out that much of the imagery that goes for political hardball these days are ugly and racial. Explain to me how images of Obama as a monkey, a stereotypical black cannibal, or the "Joker" Obama, are not racist. If you think that it is okay, then you are a fool, and have no grasp of history.

However, let me answer some of the far right critics who think this is fair play. After all George Bush was compared to a monkey, and Hitler. Well, the problem with the monkey is that African American's in the past were compared to apes, and monkeys, called sub-human and treated as such. It wasn't funny then, and it ain't funny now. The cannibal image finds it history back in the bad old days of Hollywood. Once again it was a demeaninig image designed to make African Americans subhuman.

The Joker image is the worse. It is so convenient to pass this off as Obama as a super villain. However, when I see the image I see Obama in black face. This goes back to the day of reconstruction, when black performers were not allowed to perform for white audiences, but the white audiences wanted to see the minstrel show, so, white guys painted their faces black, and painted giant red lips on their faces. They also portrayed African American's as lazy, lacking intelligence, and always trying to steal chickens and watermelons from the master/landlord.

Here is the problem. If you want to debate health care, then debate it on the merits. There are many great conservative arguments that can be made instead of this juvenile, name calling, racist BS. (and here is the really sad state of things, even Liberals hate the current health care bill, so you could easily kill it with your good old fashion fiscally conservative talking points)

To be honest if anyone is offended by what I have just said, then I have one question for you. Why do you listen to the blues??? Do you think the blues is just nice tunes?? Seriously?? What do you think the blues is all about???? Think about it.

More Mississippi Tourism

Those who have been reading this blog for awhile know about my fascination with Mississippi tourism and blues. Tunica Mississippi has put out a press release about a new highway maker devoted to Son House. I think that Mississippi is on to something. By celebrating blues heritage and promoting tourism Mississippi is helping to keep alive a rural economy. Mississippi has a lot of blues history to promote so it is a good thing. Although all of this good news about blues tourism in Mississippi must be tempered with the realism that most of those great blues players left Mississippi! As good as Mississippi might be to the blues today, in the past race relations in the deep south was abysmal. African American who could leave, did leave and headed north for jobs, and better (although slightly better) living conditions. The north still had discrimination and some areas had Jim Crow laws like the south, but lynch mobs, and violence were less frequent in the north than the south. So while it is important to celebrate the blues in the south, it is also important not to forget why there was blues in the first place.