Current Events Watch

Okay, my bad for thinking I knew it all. In a previous post about the folks in the black community “having their panties in a bunch” over the soon to be raised Martin Luther King Memorial on the National Mall being contracted to a Chinaman rather than to one of their own, I wrote:

“I just find it bizarre that those who should most appreciate the wrongness of racism would be so up-in-arms about having a China guy, Lei Yixin, assigned the task of memorializing the legacy of the one man who without question did the most to advance civil rights. No Chinese allowed? Seems rather racist to me.”

But … what if I was hoodwinked? What if the media spinmeisters played a race card that ought not have been in the deck in the first place? Certainly always a fail-safe approach for stirring up a bit of controversy, no doubt, and doesn’t suck for garnering ratings, either.

That might just be the case here. Of course, I know there are two sides to every story, and while I always have my own opinions, I do also indubitably respect the right of others to differ, no matter how misguided they may be.

I’m only human, though, and may have been duped this time into believing that those within the African-American community are all astir because they think that, to quote myself, “only black can do black.” Could I have possibly been mislead? Read on.

I pointed out, too, that the majority of members on the selection committee was black, and that black sculptors and architectural firms were also involved with the project, all of the important details. Details that, as it turns out, seem to have been selectively cherry-picked by the network bigwigs and, of course, duly reported by the talking heads.

Here’s why I have reason to think so. I received a comment in response to my previous article from one Clint Button. Granted, he is himself a long-time granite artisan, and industry liason to the King Is Ours protest organization, so understandably may have a biased opinion about the issue.

But if you read his comment, there seems to be enough credible evidence to suggest that, despite the media’s spin, the hullabaloo really might not be so much about race after all. Abridged excerpts follow, emphasis is mine. You can read the comment in its entirety here if so inclined.

“While the simplistic interpretation of our protest is viewed as race-based, our true protest is based on the process that denied all Americans a fair opportunity to participate in this project. On Nov 8, 2007, the Barre Granite Association sponsored a press conference featuring King Is Ours. In front of a 24′ tall granite statue, Gilbert Young spoke surrounded by a dozen Master Sculptors and Carvers - including the three who actually produced that 24′ statue.

“In June 2005, the MLK Foundation received $10 Million Federal to fund the MLK Memorial. In May 2006, they visited Barre, meeting with one sculptor for 15 minutes and one manufacturer for 10 minutes. Both assured the MLK Memorial Foundation they could handle the project. Neither was ever allowed to bid or even see project specifications. Foundation members even refused to tour the manufacturer’s plant, where several of these Masters were and still are carving.

“Elberton, GA’s granite industry - in size, several times that of Barre - was never contacted at all. Claims by the MLK Memorial Foundation to have ’surveyed several quarries’ at Stone Mountain on a Sunday afternoon in June 2007 fail to expand that all quarrying operations in the Stone Mountain area ceased in the 1970’s. There are also no granite quarries in America that operate on Sundays.

“In June 2006, the MLK Memorial Foundation spontaneously visited St. Paul, discovered Lei napping on the lawn after completing the only carving he admitted to had ever done completely ‘on my own.’ Lei didn’t understand the scope of the project or of Dr. King until after returning to China, all per his interviews in the LA Times and stone industry publications. But he left St Paul with a check for over $140,000.00.

“Due Diligence has not been served. Federal Monies mean an open bidding process. That NEVER Occurred. No US Entity, granite company, artist, artisan or other ever was allowed a viable chance to participate. Equality has been realized. We have all been denied. Color did not matter.

“As a result, Dr. King will be transfigured into stone, quarried and carved under near slave labor conditions. Reportedly, per edict of MLK Memorial Foundation Executive Architect Dr. Ed Jackson, all references to race- including the word ‘Negro’ - are to be expunged from Dr. King’s writings when inscribed on the Memorial. That is a dangerous corruption of history.

“Personally, I was pursued, invited and then uninvited from a CNN broadcast panel discussion in Aug 07, being told verbatim, ‘This is an African American Issue. You will not be needed for tonight’s show.’”

There are some other minor things I’d still dispute, both in Clint’s full comment as well as on the front page of the King Is Ours‘ website. But the additional information has indeed been eye-opening, and well worth perusal. I encourage you to check it out, particularly since I may have botched the abridgement above. I just selected some key points that I thought were particularly worth mentioning. He really does have more to say on the matter.

Mass media’s methods of information propagation aren’t really so surprising, but I must say that I am disappointed in my Dearly Beloved’s coverage of this as well. Et tu, NPR?

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I’m a certifiable NPR whore. Morning Edition, Fresh Air, All Things Considered … as soon as I hear the first few notes of these programs’ theme music I get sprung. Yeah, I’m weird. And don’t get me started on Sylvia Poggioli! Every time she speaks I go weak in the knees. I do love my public radio.

One of my other faves is Day to Day. So I tuned in this afternoon and heard this report about how some folks in the black community have their panties in a bunch because a Chinese dude was the finalist chosen to chip and chisel the 30-foot memorial sculpture of Martin Luther King, Jr. planned for the National Mall in D.C.

This will no doubt be the mother of all MLK memorials, and the first on the Mall honoring an African-American. At long last, after decades of planning for this massive erection (get your mind out of the gutter), things are scheduled to get underway next April. Finally.

Too bad about the Chinaman, though, one Lei Yixin. In fact, some of those who have pushed hardest for the memorial to be built are now saying that electing Lei amounts to a “slap in the face.”

I don’t know why. He is a master sculptor, with several examples of his work on display in China’s National Art Gallery. He’s gotta be good, so what’s the problem? Here’s the slap.

“It’s an insult. This is America and, believe me, there’s enough talent in this country that we do not need to go out of the country to bring someone in to do the work,” says Gwen Moore of the California Chapter of the NAACP. “Basically … to have a country that has one of the worst human rights records be in charge of the monument is a slap in the face.”

Sorry, but give me a break. The design committee chose Lei because, well, he was apparently the best man for the job. What does it matter if the selectee is of the Asian persuasion? And why is it a reflection on him that his country just happens to have “one of the worst human rights records?” Good Lord, I’m an American, and just look at us! I’d hate to be automatically dismissed out of hand because I happen to live under Bush’s dictatorial regime. Please.

Ten of twelve on the committee who chose Lei are black. He is also working closely on the design with two black sculptors in the U.S., and the overall project is being directed by a black-owned architectural firm. Plenty of checks and balances, I’d say, and really no need to worry that the guy might at the last minute decide to memorialize Dr. King holding a Chinese take-out box and a pair of chopsticks.

Yet many are in an uproar.

Gripe number 2 is all about aesthetics. Apparently only black should do black. One of the African-American sculpting contenders (loser), criticizes the proposed design because it makes Dr. King look like a giant Chinese Negro. One who, by the way, never stood or dressed that way in real life. Disgraceful.

“Dr. King never stood like that, nor wore clothes like that, nor did he look like that. It is a shameful tragedy,” says Ed Dwight, an African-American sculptor who submitted a model for the project that lost out to Lei’s. “Even a Chinese critic said the design looked like a very big Chinese black man.”

Hmmm. Maybe Dwight didn’t get the job because he didn’t do his homework. Stance? Check. Wardrobe? Check. Chinese black man? Perhaps.

I just find it bizarre that those who should most appreciate the wrongness of racism would be so up-in-arms about having a China guy assigned the task of memorializing the legacy of the one man who without question did the most to advance civil rights. No Chinese allowed? Seems rather racist to me. Our loyalties must transcend race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective - or so said Martin Luther King, Jr.

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I’ll start by admitting that I am a Christian, and that I may be a little bit crazy. Or a lot, depending upon whom you ask. But I’m not cross-burning, anti-gay Ku Klux Klan crazy, pie-in-the-face Anita Bryant crazy (now that was funny! If you don’t click on any other link, that’s the one that is truly click-worthy.), Krybaby-Killer-King-sanctity of marriage George W. Bush crazy, or in-the-closet Pat Robertson and died-in-the-closet Jerry Falwell crazy. (”The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” - Shakespear’s Hamlet. Past tense version for Jerry, of course. RIP. Pat’s still around, though. You go, girl!) Of course, there are others, but space is limited.

All of these pious folks are (or, in some cases, were) diligently doing God’s work, in a Fred Phelp’s sort of way. We gay people are responsible for all worldly woes, apparently! Alongside the blacks and Jews, and assorted others. But when Pat and Jerry had their conversation after 9/11, and I realized that I had been, in part, responsible … well, I felt really bad! I sometimes still clothe myself in sackcloth and ashes as penance for that one.

Thank God (sorry, what I meant to say was “thank goodness”, I forgot for a moment that I’m not God-worthy), that I’m not a gay, black, Jewish feminist who may have at some point had an abortion in Iraq! There wouldn’t be enough sackcloth to redeem myself! I would probably be good to go with the ashes, though. I do smoke a lot.

By the way, while I’m thinking about it, let me apologize on behalf of all of us degenerates for Katrina, too. I’ll do more penance, I promise.

I’m sure that Dubya would be appalled at being categorized with the Klan. As would Florida sunshine orange juice queen Anita. The two Bible guys might not have such a problem with it. Whatever. They’re all KKK.

The point is, everyone picks and chooses, whether it’s at the grocery store (store brand, name brand?) or when one grabs their Bible and picks this verse, that verse, to prove that they really are “holier than thou.” And it’s quite clear that gay is wrong! Okay, so I’m an abomination. Just take a look at Leviticus 18:22. That’s certainly “straight” to the point! Well, forgive me, God, but You have to admit, that guy I brought home really was cute.

And while You’re at it, forgive me for ordering the shrimp and lobster special last weekend, and for not killing my neighbor Mark, who was called into work last Sunday at the last minute. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it, seemed a bit harsh.

Of course, I, myself, didn’t work on Sunday, no way! Perhaps that might score me some spiritual points.

Speaking of scoring points, I spent my day of rest, instead, watching Chiefs’ football (finally a win!). Then again, the whole team is probably now on God’s bad side, which doesn’t bode well for the rest of the season. Playing with that unclean pigskin. Particularly on the Sabbath! So on second thought, maybe I shouldn’t have watched the game after all, should have taken no part in that transgression. I also now regret wearing my “Go Chiefs” cotton-poly-blend sweatshirt. Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.

Holy crap! I’m doomed, for so many reasons! Even so, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, please just stop condemning me for being gay. Particularly over dinner at the Red Lobster. The shrimp was good, though, wouldn’t you agree? Loved that sweater, too. I’m assuming it was 100% cotton? Okay, enough ranting, and sorry for the excessive number of links, but Bible study is important. Just trying to educate about God’s laws. Wouldn’t want someone else stoned to death for a bad menu or wardrobe choice. I’m already a lost cause.

Anyway, this is the trailer from a Kool new movie that I Kan’t wait to see when it finally makes its way here to Kansas City. Because, you know what? I really do know that Jesus loves me, despite what those other Krazy Kooky Khristians say. How do I know? For The Bible Tells Me So. In spite of all of that other stuff, of course. Yep, that was the last of too many links, praise the Lord.

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At a high school in Jena, Louisiana, there was a “white tree”, where only white students sat during breaks. Until last September, that is, when a black student asked permission from the school if he could sit under the tree. They said he could sit anywhere. Duh.

The very next day, though, three nooses were hung from the “white tree”. Three white students were held responsible and expelled from school. Hey, they may not be KKK Grand Wizards yet, but it’s a start.

However, the white superintendent overturned the expelling saying that, “Adolescents play pranks. I don’t think it was a threat against anybody,” and gave them a three day suspension instead. On the bright side, at least they only had three days to hone their cross-burning and lynching skills, hardly enough time to become proficient.

A few days later, the entire black student body protested by sitting under “the white tree”. That same day the white District Attorney came to Jena High School for an impromptu assembly with, of course, law enforcement. (”We have black folks here, we need back-up!”)

It has been reported that the DA threatened the black students who were sitting under the tree, saying if they did not stop making such a big to-do about the “innocent prank”:

“I can be your best friend or your worst enemy. I can take away your lives with a stroke of my pen.”

Then, come Friday night, a black student was beaten by a group of white students at a party. Saturday, at the Gotta Go convenience store, the black student who was beaten up the night before, along with his friends, ran into one of the white students who beat him up.

A fight broke out (surprise!) and the white kid who had beaten the crap out of the black kid the night before, went to his vehicle and grabbed a shotgun. The black guys wrestled the shotgun away from him and brought it to the police department and reported what had happened. Guess what? The black students were arrested for stealing the gun. The white student was not charged.

The next Monday, another white student was attacked at school by a group of black students for taunting them with racial slurs and saying that he supported the nooses that were hung on “the white tree” and also supported the white guys who beat up the black guy at the party. He was treated at a hospital and released the same day, and well enough to apparently go out that same night.

Six black students, now known as the Jena Six, were arrested for beating him, and charged with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. They were all immediately expelled from school. Where’s that 3-day suspension overriding superintendent when you need him? That’s right, never mind, I forgot for a moment that these kids aren’t white, it’s different.

In the local paper, it was reported that the white DA published a statement saying, “When you are convicted, I will seek the maximum penalty allowed by law.” Are you kidding me? “When you are convicted” is quite an assumption! I think what he meant to say was, “If you are convincted.” Then again, we’re in Jena, Louisiana.

The kids, some who have already spent several months in jail because their families didn’t have the money to post bail, face between 20 and 100 years in prison, for attempted second degree murder. The white kid, on the other hand, who was well enough after the fight, er, I mean attempted murder, to attend a party that same night, apparently has no worries. Good to go.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t condone the behavior of the white kids or the black kids, or the fighting crap. They’re kids, they fight, it’s wrong, it happens. But it’s obvious that in Jena, LA, racism is rampant. The “white tree”. The nooses, just a honky prank, no harm done. White kids beating up a black kid, apparently just one of those things kids do. Blacks beating up a white kid, though, attempted murder, and 100 years in jail. Oh yeah, and I guess pulling a shotgun on someone is okay, as long as you’re white, and your target is black. And God forbid they should try to take the gun away, that would be stealing. But then again, that’s what black folks do. Just ask anyone in Jena.

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