In the midst of turmoil, even when the worst of matters are smacking folks of all cultures in the face, a spade gon’ be a spade. “Call a Spade a Spade”: To tell the truth about something, even if it is not polite or pleasant. Pertaining to ethnicity, the phrase predates the use of the word “spade” as an ethnic slur against black people, which was not recorded until 1928. This item encompasses a bit of both regarding recent public and personal occurrences.
I use the word “spade” in place of “the word”, as to not perpetuate the unfortunate blatant existence of their kind. As the heat in Ferguson, MO stays at a boil, the town just as well stay hot until an actual difference transpires. Let it be the “sacrificial lamb”, as demonstrations and peaceful protests spread to other cities, until an actual evident change of heart and mind takes place.
I went to see “Get On Up” the first week it was released. There’s a scene in the film that reenacts the night James Brown performed in Boston, the day after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/james-brown-calms-boston-following-the-king-assassination. Members of the audience proceeded to jump on stage while JB and the band were playing, to the point that he had to stop the show, and tell them not to. He pleaded with a primarily black audience, to conduct themselves with respect for him and themselves, by enjoying the show and not taking part in it. Preceding this scene and after it, was a black couple in the theater, continually shouting out reacting to moments in the film. I saw the movie in Boston. The couple was like certain folks depicted in the movie that disrupted JB’s set 45 years ago, still live in Boston, to the point that we the patrons had to have them removed.
A relative new resident of Boston, I had to travel to New York recently. A “spade” thought it was ok to physically push me, so I pushed him back, he pushed me again. Calling a spade a spade, I said “Yo Spade”, he proceeded to knock the cap on my head off. As I had no desire to engage in a physical altercation, I retrieved my cap and exited the bus. My purpose for making the trip was far too important to be impeded by getting arrested, or worse, ending up physically injured by some spade. I didn’t WANT to call him less than a man, however he needed to know that his actions were less than one worthy of respect, because he disrespected me.
Sigh… so I say all this to say, as far as we’ve come, there’s STILL so much further to go. I believe that I’m one among the multitude that have figured it out, unfortunately there’s ALWAYS STILL SO MUCH FURTHER TO GO… ALL THE TIME. On either side if the equation, whether we as a people are being persecuted against, we continue to persecute each other. Let That Be The Reason… There’s always so much further to go, because from the most intelligent to the most ignorant, there are TOO many Black People that choose not to “Get It Together.” For as many of us that live up to a higher standard, there are far too many that don’t.
I live in Cambridge, down the street from Harvard, the institution of learning where our current President of the United States attended. I’ve been in the company of some of who are referred to as the “Black Intelligentsia.” Webster’s definition: “A group of intelligent and well-educated people who guide or try to guide the political, artistic, or social development of their society.” I’ve observed the ‘Black Intelligentsia’, some of those considered the elite, snub their fellow elite, just as I’ve witnessed the ratchet belittle their own. I have put my trust in those that agreed to reciprocate a kindness, piss on our verbal agreement, and not think twice about it.
I could unfortunately relay more examples of blatant bullshit that exists, that we keep asking ourselves why does it persist, when it’s right in our faces. Think about it, I bet it won’t be that difficult, that something transpired in your immediate space, where YOU could “Call a Spade a Spade.”
State of the Black Union 2008, Afternoon Session:
“Leaders in education, public policy, religion, and black communities discussed the role of the African-American vote in the 2008 presidential election. Topics included the possible election of African-American Democratic candidate Barack Obama to be president; the effects of the presidential election on the social, political, and economic future of African-American communities; and the mortgage crisis and the U.S. economy. The rebuilding of parts of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina was discussed and survivor Herreast Harrison described her experiences and the ways in which she helped others. In the last portion of the forum Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton spoke to the audience about health care, education and her thoughts on her candidacy. She then was questioned by Tavis Smiley. Senator Clinton was the only presidential candidate to accept the invitation to address the forum in person. ’The State of the Black Union 2008: Reclaiming Our Democracy, Deciding Our Future’ took place in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Conference Auditorium in New Orleans. This event was sponsored by Tavis Smiley Presents and moderated by Mr. Smiley. My inspiration for including this link was the words and commentary of Civil Rights Activist Dick Gregory — particularly @ 03:03: http://www.c-span.org/video/?204090-2/state-black-union-2008-afternoon-session
For getting to the Heart of what the FUNK is the matter
c-dub
