Friday
Nov302007
Why Aren't the Lives of Black Women Treasured?:
Friday, November 30, 2007 at 7:54AM The Blogmother “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
While Police were recovering and identifying the body of Latasha Norman, Barack Obama was eating fried chicken in Harlem with Al Sharpton and MSNBC was reporting on the recovery of the body of another college student. It goes without saying that the other college student was not an African American woman otherwise, MSNBC would not have reported on her kidnapping and murder.In the world of television news, air time is the treasure. The more important the editorial decision-makers believe a story is to them, the more air time will be given to the story.
In the world of politics, political capital is the treasure. The more important a politician believes an issue is, the more political capital, in the form of public statements and legislation, a politician is willing to expend.
When I say important. I don't mean private importance, but public importance. You see the editor making the calls about what goes on cable news may privately care deeply about violence against black women, but made the calculation that they cannot do so in their public lives. A politician may care very deeply about violence against Black women privately, but may do absolutely nothing about it in their public lives.
We aren't voting for a man or woman. We're voting for a President-an administration. I ain't particularly interested in their private lives. What I am concerned about is their public life.
What do they treasure publicly? We can tell what they treasure publicly pretty gosh darn easily because THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM!
Regular readers of this blog know that the Universe loves to mock me. I vow never to write about something and then the Universe in its infinite wisdom decides to plop something smack dab in front of my face whose irony and hypocrisy literally dares me to comment on it at 4:00AM.
Now Rev. Renita J Weems would probably tell me that I was naïve, but Renita I really did think that all these people would have to hear were the horrific details of the crime and they would be so moved to action that they would literally trip over themselves to speak out publicly about the horrors. I was stupid and yes, naïve.
So when I woke up this morning and read that while police were trying to identify the body of Latasha Norman, Barack Obama was eating fried chicken at Sylvia's with Al Sharpton and later commented PUBLICLY on the Jena 6 in front of a audience filled with members of The Black Elite Establishment at the Apollo theater on the same day I was like “You have got to be kidding me.” The juxtaposition is insane.
The truth is that while our political leaders may feel bad privately they aren't going to speak out about any of these violent crimes against Black women. Because politically the lives of Black women and girls aren't TREASURED only our votes.
Genarlow Wilson – YES- PUBLICLY!
Daniyah Jackson or the 11 year-old Black girl raped by up to 19 men and boys – NOPE!
Jena 6 – YES-PUBLICLY!
Latasha Norman, Nailah Franklin, Marcie Crane, Kireasha Pam Linkhome, Shirley Geanes, Latoya Natasha Thomas, Dymashal Lashon Cullins, Tyesha Patrice bell, Daphne Philisia Jones, Tamika Antoinette Huston, and all the other Black women that go missing while MSNBC focuses on what Paris Hilton is wearing when she goes to jail.– NOPE.
Michael Vick's Pitt bulls – YES! - PUBLICLY!- IN WRITING!
Vicious torture and gang rape of a Black mother and child by 10 other children- NOPE!
That looks ugly doesn't it. It ain't pretty, but it is the truth.
Dogs and boys – TREASURED.
Black women and girls -NOT.
The politicians have done their mercenary political calculations and have concluded that they can get away with ignoring crimes against humanity committed against African American women in this country. Why? Because they don't treasure our lives. In the political world, the lives of six African American teenage boys are worth more than the lives of a thousand Black women and children.
It's time to change the variables in their equations.
We shouldn't have to beg anybody to do what they have a moral obligation to do. The days of black women begging folks for anything OUGHT to be over. We're in the majority when it comes to Black registered voters. We control over 67% of the 850 BILLION of Black America's dollars. We lead the majority of Black America's households. So tell me why we got to beg anybody to acknowledge our humanity and treasure our lives as much as the live of Black criminal defendants?
Violence against Black women ain't going away. Candidates can either deal with it THIS December or they can deal with it NEXT November, but they will deal with it and they will deal with it publicly. It is of no consequence to me when it happens. CALCULATE THAT!
In Loving Memory of Daniyah Jackson | Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With the Family of Latasha Norman |
 Daniyah Jackson. |  Read more about Latasha |
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Reader Comments (19)
Hey Gina,
I heard a sound bite on the news about the Obama and Sharpton meeting. I think they said that they discussed violence in America.
I'm not sure if they were speaking about a particular incident or not, but the reporter said they did dicuss the subject.
April
It certainly doesn't help our casue when a black woman goes on CNN and tells the world that black women support Hillary over Obama because "we" relate to and "feel" Hillary because she shares our "struggles" with unfaithful men. Uhmmm...yea, that's what my voting criteria is...rme.
I could have pulled an Elvis on my TV when I heard that this morning. CNN ofcourse is reporting on the "black women aren't supporting Obama" thing in conjunction with Obama's Harlem visit last night.
CNN was kind enough to report on the percentages of black men and women who support Obama or Clinton. Guess who supported whom. I'm sure they will have this "story" on a constant loop today.
I think black women seriously need to put out the call to the Republican party that our votes are NOT engraved in Democratic stone this election.
The Republican party better step their game up...because I think we need other options.
pinky
Now you know there is a AP Feed on that Apollo Speech he gave check it out they a calling I think " Obama's Political Move of the day"
mmm ok Yeah he mentioned the Jena 6incident, he mentioned the war. I heard some yelps, but we are not hearing what his stance is on other things. Im not against him ither let me be clear, I feel like the parent at the spelling bee in the audience edging my child on on the sidelines silently saying under my breath "violence against women and children, health care,..." teeth gritted together saying "come on Obama you can say it come on " awwww you missed it by just thaattt much.
check out the feed juneteenthincamden.blogspot.com see the little 2 minute clip there with the sould brother hug with Chris Rock.
Next.
It certainly doesn't help our casue when a black woman goes on CNN and tells the world that black women support Hillary over Obama because "we" relate to and "feel" Hillary because she shares our "struggles" with unfaithful men.
Oh pinkydj THANK YOU. I was screaming at the TV, "See, we don't need other people to make us look a fool, we got Black women doing it."
ALL OF THESE POLITICIANS had better wake up, smell coffee, and start ISSUING STATEMENTS directed toward black women about matters that we care about.
I say 'issuing statements, because I honestly believe that even if Barack Obama DID say something Latasha Norman's murder (which is pure speculation on my part), CNN would have edited it out.
Sorry to harp on this but WAKE UP folks, we do not have a free press anymore and y'all ought to be scared.... DARN scared... about what the FCC is doing.
Because if you think news about the mass violence against black women is missing on the 6 o'clock news, you just wait. Black women are about to disappear from local newspapers, national magazines and the radio too, because they are changing laws that allow those same, racist folks to buy them up.
Professor Tracy said, stop being reactionary and start being revolutionary. Don't wait for them to change these laws, and then march in protest in front of the FCC. STOP THEM NOW.
It is time for us to get organized. I'm dead serious, women. We need our own political action committee, with our needs spelled out in writing.
So right Shecodes. The FCC is currently looking for a waiver for The Tribune Company until they can get their law change.
Its one of those things they hope the general public doesnt pay attention to.
Gina, there phones should be ringing off the hook right now.
The national news media needs to be held accountable, national and local black leadership needs to be held accountable, and a national effort to take back our communities needs to be established. We need community justice centers established in black communities to deal with conflicts, we need reform schools reestablished to send males who are acting out and out of control and not attending school in special programs until they are 21 and or responsible. Our communities are in breakdown mode, have been for years, Its time for corrective action, corrective projects and programs that work, with goals and outcomes. Churches are doing little of nothing, the national office of the NAACP, get this the National Association for the "advancement" of colored people, has no plan to address the "advancement" of our people, particularly women.
No one is held accountable. Obama is getting a big pass, Hillary is getting a big pass, Edwards is getting a big pass, the NAACP is getting a big pass, Judges are getting a big pass, the media is getting a big pass, everyone seems to be getting a pass, as our daughters die in the street of America. I have a 19 year old daughter, Natasha could have been my daughter, or many of your readers. It's time for an educational beat down! as you say, enough is enough!
Add Marquita Smith to that list.
You weren't being naive about Obama and others, just hopeful and proving that beneath that cynical little heart is someone who still wants to have faith in the hu/man race.
Permit me to quote a lesson from Maya Angelou (quoted by Oprah Winfrey).
When people show you who they are, believe them, the first time. Live your life from truth and you will survive everything, everything, I believe even death. You will survive everything if you can live your life from the point of view of truth.
The father of Latasha Norman was on the Tom Joyner Morning show this morning. And to hear him thanking people for their prayers. Was just heart wrenching. This man lost his daughter.
There seem to be too many occurances where young black girls and woman are being killed by people who know them.
Black on Black crime should be the # 1 item for our civil rights leaders. But unforunately it is not.
I was reading MSN's news page. Seems they have three suspects in custody for the murder of the Redskin's football player already.
Wonder how long it will take to find Latasha's murderer?
And have they stopped looking for the person that murdered the girl in Chicago a few months ago?
add to that a feed i just got about a young woman that in augusta ga that just stabbed her two young children to death. Ok whats going on? the feed is on my page but i im sure you can find this one any where i noticed that when i post about obama and chris rock it was gone wow but the story about crabs stuck around. sup with that?
whats going on with our people our young mothers? she had a fight with the boyfriend so she kille the children.
So what happens now?
PETA was the main reason why the issue with Michael Vick is in the news. I think the situation sucks because of what was done to those dogs. Black women are neglected in the news and other publications and its time for us to speak up. I am glad this blog exists. I would vote hillary because she is familiar. Barack is new and I wanna know who is backing and pushing him before I vote for him.
I have (yet another) crazy question y'all...
What if someone a "wag the dog"? (??I think that's what its called...)
Someone run for president -with absolutely no intention of winning- but with the platform of black women issues being their main concern.
I'm sure that would raise the topic at least.
I'm glad that there is a feminist blog network that deals with the travesties that are committed by the mainstream media and other news outlets regularly. Until I came to this blog, I didn't know about the rape at dunbar village. That's unacceptable, but the news will never discuss it. Frankly, I was surprised when they talked about the black woman who was held against her will in WV. So, I applaud you and keep doing what you are doing.
Tracy--FYI. Latasha Norman's ex-boyfriend Stanley Cole told the police that they could find her body on Brown Street located in North Jackson (according to a post by TheJacksonChannel.Com 10:03 a.m. CST November 30, 2007
JACKSON, Miss.).
SASJ
She Codes...
I'm emotionally divided on whether Barack Obama or any other presidential candidate should just jump on the podium and start address black women issues. How can he do that if we as black women aren't a monolithic group of people? As with all politricks the dynamic of the black women isn't some homogeneous playing field. And truth be told the American public is not really sure of who we really are as women...Look at our images in mainstream media...We've got Oprah...but for the most part we're on BET and nudely magazines stands clappin our asses for $$$$$. Now I'm smart enough to know that that does'nt represent who we are...but I also know that Black woman aren't united and that Americans are conditioned to believe that we can only fall into two categories....Mammies and Jezebels..
Now I don't believe that we should just fall back and let America think what it wants...but I don't believe that threatening to pull votes away from a man just because he doesn't address the lack of respect that black women get in the media is fair. Especially not for Barack Obama..a sincere educated black man with a beautiful, strong, and accomplished black wife and a beautiful family. Let's not get presumptuous about how much power Barack Obama really has; and lets not forget the overall history of what this man running for president really means. It's history in the making.
I love this blog
That video about Dunbar village at the top of the blog is just .... I don't know. It holds me in such a tight grip. At the end, I can only rock myself to console myself.
I hope it makes a difference.
Its hard to look at the full problem head on.
this is really sad