Last week, I dropped the The 11th Annual Judge Joe Brown "Do Better" Awards (aka: Things AB Could Do Without In 08'), and promised a more positive followup in the name of being fair and balanced. Well, lo and behold, Blogger.com ended up losing my post, so I had to redo it, with a few additions.
So, before this blog self-destructs again, here's The 11th Annual Judge Joe Brown "Well Done" Awards (aka: Things AB Would Like To See More Of In 08') in no particular order:
Yo Gabba Gabba/Hip Hop Harry - It's about time the folks in Hollyweird realized that when done properly, hip-hop can be a valuable learning tool for kids. And while I think YGG's DJ Lance Rock looks a little fruity, any show that keeps Biz Markie gainfully employed is alright by me.
The Spears Family - For proving that severe family dysfunction ain't just a black thang. I'm still waiting for Jamie Lynn's 19 year old babydaddy to get hit with that statutory rape charge, a la Genarlow Wilson. But I ain't holdin' my breath.
Barack Obama - For giving me real hope that a Black(ish) President might happen in my lifetime. That massive
Mike Huckabee - For giving me a semi-digestable alternative should America not prove ready for a Black President as I secretly fear.
Lebron James - I'll be the first to admit that I used to hate on King James, mainly because he routinely kicked my team out of the playoffs each year. But the more I watch the guy, the more I realize he is the true embodiment of all things good about professional sports. He doesn't lash out a teammates in the media. He doesn't disagree with coaches in the media. He (appears to) actively raise his two sons, although that topless pool incident in Miami a few years ago was pretty triflin'. He has one baby mama and (appears) to be sticking with her. He is self deprecating in a genuinely modest way. He makes mildly entertaining commercials. He doesn't use his modest upbringing as an excuse to hang on to old friends that hold him down. He hires black agents and PR reps. He speaks good English. He respects the game. He is darn near averaging a triple double for the season. If he knocks the Wizards out in round one again this Spring, I might revert a bit, but for now, Bron Bron is ok in my book.
Michael Baisden - For providing consistent blogging fodder and really good 80's R&B music when he isn't busy with his latest DriveBy Activism cause or Nigga Nonsense line of discussion (pimpin' preachers, threesomes). I guess I'd be better off just finding a station that plays the music and cuts out the middle man. Any suggestions?
Jimmy Rollins and C.C. Sebathia - By winning the MVP and Cy Young Awards, these two American born and Bay-Area raised brothers proved that baseball ain't just a white man's sport. Rube Foster is smilin' inside.
Sylvester Croom and Romeo Crennel - For proving once and for all that black men can coach football just as well as we play it. These two bought their floundering programs back from the ruins.
BET - Yeah, BET, I said it. For all the criticism I throw their way, I can also acknowledge their halfway decent programming in hopes that they provide more of it. Meet The Faith is consistently solid, Sunday Best was pretty entertaining, and Exalted was a winner. This station will never be all things to all people, but then again, maybe we should stop expecting so much from a TV station. After all, it IS called Black Entertainment Television, not Black Educational Television. Library cards are free. Use em', and stop expecting Debra Lee to show you and your kids every facet of black culture. And don't complain about the video and reality shows if you don't bother tuning in for the good ones.
Ok, this list's shorter, but if you've got some to add, you know where to do it.



9 AverageComments™:
LOL @ "black-ish" president"
and I am still hating on King James!
I've been reading your post for a few months now and I genuinely enjoy it. Even better that you're in my area, so I can relate to a lot of the things.
Anyway, it concerns me that most of the things on this list are all sports or music related, with the exception of Obama and Huckabee. Speaking of Huckabee, after reading about the release of the rapist, I'm not too sure about him.
Is this really the black reality? Maybe it is.
@v clev,
Good question. Honestly, the initial post I had written was much longer and more diverse, but when Blogger.com erased it, I had to redo the list off the top of my head. Those that show up on this list are what came to mind first. I would have added more, but the house alarm (AverageToddler) went off, and well, lets just say I had to go.
Still, you do hit a good point though: perhaps this is the new black reality, or at least in my opinion it may be. The few black CEO's we have have been canned. I don't count rap CEO's as real progress since most of them are just highly paid product endorsers. Our preachers are constantly in trouble. Politricians always seem to screw up. There is not true national black leadership.
I guess it raises the question: except for sports and entertainment, where exactly ARE we succeeding (in great numbers and visibly)?
Just so you don't think my life is that superficial, I know lots of black (and otherwise) men and women whom I think are doing excellent things on a local/smaller level, but that list would be too boring to most of my readership that isn't DC based.
Still, feel free to add your "Well Dones" to the list, you know where.
Honestly, after I posed the question about whether this was the black reality, I paused to see if I could find more. This was where the maybe came in. As you mentioned, there are many successes that I see in my personal life, but they mught seem boring or would they.
My rants are in no way to suggest that something different needed to be posted. I truly enjoy what you do. These are just questions I struggle with myself.
I agree with you re: hip-hop as a pontential learning tool. Despite it's current distortion, it is a Black artform that we would do well to reclaim and reshape for good, not evil. There are actually a number of "edu-tainment" companies out there doing just that, we just have to look for them and support them.
As for add ons to your list, I submit Oprah for the "Putting Your Money Where It Counts" award. Like her or not, she has consistently supported projects she believes in, such as the school in South Africa. I would like to see more of us with means use our funds to support positive initiatives as opposed to just talking or complaining about it.
Waddup, AB, haven't posted a reply in a while tryna "upgrade" myself, financially, spiritually, and geographically (in no particular order), but anyhoo, I'd like to add my Kudos to succesful black marriages, especially those in the Hollyhood limelight. With more marriages failin than a Maury guest testin her 18th baby-daddy, much and many props are due to anyone that can make it work and make it last, includin you AB. We've seen the breakdown of such power couples as Russell and Kimora, Babyface and Tracey (she ain't waste no time wit Eddie, huh?, Shaq and his wife, Dwayne Wade and his high-school sweetheart turned wife, and yes, the one we were all surprised didn't the bottom didn't fall out earlier, Whitney and Bobby, and the countless regular joes and jills who just couldn't swing the proverbial matrimonial bat any longer. So here's to:
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith-10 yrs strong
Fatin and Aja - (Kindred the Family Soul)- 9 yrs
Samuel Jackson and the Mrs. - 20 + yrs
(sorry, havin MAJOR brain farts right now )
Denzel and Pauletta - 22 yrs
Ashford and Simpson - 80 yrs ;)
Bill and Camille Cosby - 30 + yrs
Courtney Vance and Angela Bassett - 12 yrs
Mr & Mrs Doug Christie (especially for dodgin that post-reality show=doomed relationship bullet/hex)
Oprah & Stedman - 20 yrs (I know they aren't officially married, but hey, with her money, it can be what she makes it)
Dennis and Zandra Chestnut AKA Abu & Umi - 37 years ( I HAD to---they're the ultimate make-a-marriage-work role models)
I know I m leavin off some, but you get the point---Keep the lovin long and strong my peeps.
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