American Idol - My Guilty Pleasure

I'm going out on a limb for "American Idol" fans and choosing this year's American Idol. Ace Young (top) is my top pick, not because he's the best singer, but because he has the best package of singing, looks and stage charisma. America will eat this boy up.

Certainly, this is not a "talent only" competition because if it were, Season 3 would have seen the three divas battle it out and no shade Fantasia (did you just say Jennifer Hudson? I swore I just heard someone say her name), but Fantasia baby, you may not have won. Not hatin' because I think Fantasia certainly deserves the title for the type of show that American Idol is.

And let me get upset one more quick moment, and again evidence that its not a talent only competion because there are only 4 black girls and 1 black boy in the top 24. C'mon American Idol. You mean to tell me that in your search for the best in America, only 5 blacks made your top 24. Could it be that you are catering to the demographics of your audience? Could it be that if it were truly based on talent, your top 12 girls would have 8 black girls from the Baptist churches across America? Uh, maybe.

But with that said, American Idol is my guilty pleasure and has been for 4 of the 5 seasons. Season 1 - I was just warm on the show. And when I watched, I picked Kelly to win. Now she's a grammy winner for those of you who hate on the show.

This year, its an okay show with a few shining stars. Parris Bennett (Ann Nesby's grand-daughter and Fantasia - the sequel), Katharine McPhee (Mariah's little sister), and my personal favorite Taylor Hicks (Michael McDonald and Joe Cocker's love child) although not the Idol, he is just a treat to watch. And sexy Christopher Daughtry, he gets extra points for singing Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive." - all mentioned should make it to the top ten.

Now, knowing how the producers of the show interupt America's voting with perfectly placed upsets strategically unfolded for reality television (did I hear someone say Jennifer Hudson again), my top picks may all get booted this week.

"The Island" - The Movie's Burning Question

The question of my weekend:

If you paid 5 million dollars for a labortory cloned/genetic mass/body parts of yourself that can be used in order to cure your own future ills, and then realized that the company selling you this cloned/genetic mass/body parts of yourself was actually producing a cloned genetic human (your twin) and keeping them alive until you needed the body part/s, once realizing this, would you still order your cloned replica killed in order to save yourself?

Hmmm! I think I actually did well trying to get the question out considering the dynamics of the heated discussion I've just had with some close friends who had shocking answers to the question.

Let's see if this can become clearer. What if your clone (a living, breathing person) shows up at your door, someone that looks like you, someone that is thinking and has feelings shows up with a lot of questions. They have questions because they have been living in a world where they didn't know that you existed, they live in a world where they believe that their world far in the desert is the only life on the planet. This has been told to them by the medical/pharmaceutical company that basically gave birth to them in a laboratory so that you may live longer by using their cloned body parts when needed.

Or - if the time comes that you need some transplant or you may be dying from some illness, you make a phone call. This phone call results in your clone believing that they've just won "the lottery" to be taken to this paradise island, when really - they are taken off to the land of death, used for their body parts in order to keep you alive.

Finding this out, would you still allow this to happen in order to keep yourself alive?

Them Mexicans

I was at work today and for the second time in my experience here at my job, "them Mexicans" was used in a derogatory manner by two people that I know are conscious, concerned and connected enough to know better. For the record, "them Mexicans" is no different than "them black people" or "them gay people" - especially when followed with a derogatory statement or fueled by a source of anger/frustration about a particular situation.

I explain what I learned in Racism 101 (not that I needed this course - thanks Mom) because somehow, two people that I care about don't get this, didn't get it to understand that "them Mexicans" shouldn't be used at least not around me, and maybe not at all if you don't consider yourself superior or above other groups of people, races and/or nationalities. For me, it's offensive.

"Them Mexicans" was thrown around carelessly, freely as if "them Mexicans" are now the allowed elitism among us, as if Mexicans are now lower on the heirarchy of priveledge until they have their revolution, their equality movement in America. When it becomes politically incorrect to speak "them Mexicans" into public spaces like the "N Word," people like me who are offended by "them Mexicans" will be challenged on how best to address the offense.

If it were someone I didn't care about or someone that I had no idea how they felt about racism oppressive to blacks or homophobia oppressive to LGBT people, it would be an easy call on how to handle it. But these again are friends of mine who know better, one friend is black, one friend is gay and white. They at least know better when it comes to our own oppression. Can we not used that same understanding for "them Mexicans?"

And I'm troubled at not having the courage to say something as the conversation unfolded. Why should I have to even sit with any discomfort? ...contemplating how to address this with a friend. I'm not the one who said it so why should I have this burden?

"Them Mexicans" is offensive and leaps me to wonder, what else you may say, even if its only behind closed doors. How else might you see yourself superior or seperate yourself from other humans? And if its not your intent to offend, "them Mexicans" will be removed from your vocabulary as "Nigger" and "faggot" has been (at least in public) by so many others.

Willie Nelson Has Gone Brokeback

America has gone Brokeback and now Willie Nelson is jumping on the wagon. I don't even know how I feel about this or maybe I should say that I don't know how to pull out the countless fleeting thoughts that I have about this. "Cowboys are Frequently Secretly (Fond of Each Other)" is Willie Nelson's new song exclusively released on Valentine's Day as a part of his ITunes original release.

First, sad thought is that anyone would download this song over John Legend's ITunes original release on the same date, his Vingle (video single combined) titled "Hello It's Me / Ordinary People (Live Video)." This vingle is absolutely brilliant. I'm so happy that John Legend exist for the music industry but yet again, the same problem. I don't know John Legend personally but my best educated guess is that he's gay. And wouldn't it be great that IF he were gay, that John Legend could exist as a Grammy Award winning recording artist/super talent with the public knowing this? But this world doesn't exist...and I hesitate to say YET.

Now to Willie! Why? Why? Why? If it were so that one day this world I dream of would exist, then maybe. But was this the goal? Doubtfully! Certainly not with the cliche lyrics included in the song. "Inside every cowboy there's a lady who'd love to slip out." No Willie, my feelings for men is not my lady slipping out, its still the man in me attracted to men. But who cares how any gay men or gay cowboys feel about this ancient analogy of homosexuality.

And I would love to believe that the movie "Brokeback Mountain" existed in some part to help facilitate this new world of acceptance of LGBT people. But again, doubtfully! So is it okay that "by default," my desired end result may be achieved without conscious effort towards that end, that because there's more dialogue and America gets to see and hear and inevitably learn (especially by hightened dialogue) about the dynamics of gay (although more white) life, eventually more acceptance, respect and FREEDOM will occur. And does it matter that this "by default" end is reached while blatant inequalities are allowed, while many of us are being offended? This is why I'm so torn when we get glimpses of through-the-back-door media attention that touches, even though barely the issue/s.

As I understand it, Willie Nelson is "tolerant" of gay people, this even stated within articles I've read about the new song. As if tolerance equals equality on necessary levels, but this probably wasn't Willie's words but those of "tolerant" clueless article writers. And Willie's manager is gay. But does that mean that Willie is equipped with the necessary language to have this huge microphone in front of him to speak to the issues exposed because of the press from the new song? Why Willie Nelson? Why not John Legend (again, only if he is gay) or even better, someone openly gay and conscious to the burning needs of our community. When will "the machine" get behind an openly gay artist WITH DAMN GOOD MUSIC too and make the success happen so that someone who IS equipped to speak to the issues, have a chance to in such a huge way? So that we get "there" quicker and with purpose.

Honestly speaking, I think an "affirmative action" plan needs to unfold within especially the music business but life in general in order for us to get "there." So where is "there?"

"There" is a world where Luther Vandross is Luther Vandross even though he's gay. Yes people - this is not news. It just is!!! "There" is that we celebrate Tyler Perry's success in Hollywood as Tyler sits on Oprah and introduces his lover Shemar, or Bill or John or whatever "male" it might be. I'm convinced that these little strides towards the desired goal is not getting us "there" fast enough. Willie Nelson's song is still a comedic spin on a serious unaddressed issue of homophobia in America, homophobia that exist on so many damaging unfair levels.

Which is why there's all this press on Willie Nelson's "Cowboys are Frequently Secretly (Fond of Each Other)" - a song that's basic at best. The song is certainly not of Willie's best or even today's county music's best. The song is cute to have a laugh at (white America will laugh) but has this done anything to address homophobia in America.

Any plans for Valentine's Day?

One of my closest friends gave a very Anthony Antoine answer to the question being asked by many today. Following the pack, I asked him if he had any plans for Valentine's Day.

He responded, "yes, making love to myself."

What an answer! And what a sentiment needing to be bought to all of our attention.


Who better to plan something special with on Valentine's Day than yourself?

The Revolution Will Not Be Emailed!

If I get another Corretta Scott King email - I will scream. It's as if people believe sending the email means they're conscious and connected to what she stood for. It's extremely troubling when some of the same people forwarding the emails are complacent when its time to take a stand for social justice, especially black gay social justice.

I ask, "What did you do to honor her legacy while she was alive?" "And what will you do now that there's a huge void in the movement?" "Did you vote in the last election?" "Have you visited The King Center or even better, facilitated a young person going?" "...spent time with a young person to ensure that they understand the movement?" "When was the last time you made a difference in someone's life? ...helped to facilitate a space of freedom in someone's life?" "What legacy will you leave when you die?"

As you send your next email participating in the talk of social justice and the legacy of Mrs. Coretta King, honor her with your actions of participation. Let's not have to have another one of our few activist leaders taken from us in order to be reminded that there's so much more work to do. And sending tons of emails with soupy but shallow words is not the work.

Is It Just Me?

Is it just me or is Bernice King crazy?