It’s Friday … yep, and T.G.I.F.!!
Boycotting the Oscars?!? It’s one of the most recent issues being discussed on the big stage of world events! But why … some people ask … would African Americans like Spike Lee and Will Smith, not to mention the person who originally “disturbed the peace”, Jada Pinkett Smith, do such a thing?!! The answer: “This is the second year in a row that NO African American actors/actresses were nominated for Oscar Awards”, echoed Spike Lee. He followed up: “You think that none of us can act?!?” Will Smith stated emotionally about the Oscar Awards Ceremony, “It’s beautiful and deserving and is fantastic, but … it seems it is going in the wrong direction.” Will eloquently spoke candidly about how Hollywood owes it to America to reflect its diversity and the goodness of it and not separate people according to religion and sexual orientation … etcetera … etcetera … and all well expressed! It is the media that often creates images of “people” that stick in peoples’ minds!
Could it be that factions of American society are expressing a “backlash” to the fact that our country just elected an African American President in Barack Obama for two terms?!? Does it mean that “the people” heard Dr. King?!? Did “the people” realize that the power to vote is important in order to get elected officials that represent the community they serve and their issues?!? Clearly, the people did hear Dr. King!! It’s a beautiful thing!!
I think back to the lines of folks as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL … named after a former Ku Klux Klan leader …. I think back to the horror story of the crazed white kid who prayed with black folks at that AME Church in South Carolina … then killed nine of them … I think back to the senseless stalking and killing of Trayvon Martin by self-proclaimed “vigilante” George Zimmerman who was found “not guilty” of murdering the teen. We the people … must stay on our toes … not turning our hatred and hostilities toward each other … especially us “black men” … and join together to challenge injustices wherever they might occur! Yes, it is a tough job … but someone has to do it. Try to keep it real.
I give many of us a lot of credit, like these actors, who stand up … stand tall … in the face of injustice to bring our attention to the evils in our society … in our world! Let’s have something worth “it” … for our children … we MUST care … about our children’s children. It is THEIR world, too! Together, we can make the world … a better place!
Peace,
John I. Cook, Director
Educational Excellence 