Monday
Feb212011
DEFAMED! The Real Housewives of Civil Rights
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 7:00AM The Blogmother I don't know what's worse, portraying Rosa Parks as an incoherent drunkard, depicting Betty Shabazz, a woman whose husband was assassinated as a gun wielding loon, calling Coreta Scott King a "b*tch" and portraying her as an adulteress or comparing iconic Black women to those disgraceful, buffoonish posers on the Real housewives of Atlanta.
Some of you will laugh your way right off the side of a cliff.
Hat Tip to Shadow and Act.
Don't forget to like our Facebook Page. We shut down our NING network. My book More Than Words is now available for download for $3.99 | 36 Comments | Share Article
36 Comments | Share Article
Reader Comments (36)
If this unfunny and unsmart video were called the Real Husbands of Civil Rights, then all of the drunkeness, debauchery, serial adultery, would be true. My problem with this video isn't limited to the bad acting and historical inaccuracy, it glosses over the reason that the Civil Rights Movement was so successful - the morality of its women and the women who were connected to the men of the movement.
Rosa Parks was an upper middle class girl training tobe a lyric soprano BEFORE she met Martin. In fact, in terms of black aristocracies, she came from better stock than Martin. Rosa wasn't merely some seamtress who was tired, but she was a community organizer and early strategisits of the bus boyvotts. Her stand was PLANNED - not random because she was drunk or "tired".
And then let's not forget Dr.Shabazz or her horrific death or her being made a widow. The other characters didn't even make any sense... and then Wayne Brady? Didn't he stop being black in 1997?
If this unfunny and unsmart video were called the Real Husbands of Civil Rights, then all of the drunkeness, debauchery, serial adultery, would be true.
What a ridiculous and false statement. Hypocritically defending the defamation of black women by defaming black men. What a very productive tactic.
I can't see the video, but I'm sure that the video is a prime example of how comedy today is overshadowng any sense of class and dignity in our society.
"Rosa Parks was an upper middle class girl training tobe a lyric soprano BEFORE she met Martin." Perhaps here you meant to say Coretta Scott King?
Nonetheless, your point is well taken. Just when I thought foolishness, clown-ism and buffoonery could get no worse, then this? WTH is wrong with these people? Have they no pride in the many thousands of women from the Civil Rights era? How much were they paid to do this? I hope it was worth it. MLK Jr. or MX's kids should walk up to them and put them on blast. :( :( :(
I saw this about a week ago. It's funny if you only know these women by hearing their names during every Black history month of your life. You'd see this video as in interesting/hilarious caricature if you didn't understand their struggle and what women of color fight for today.
When I watched this video I thought it was funny at how wrong they could be historically, personality-wise, and how poor the acting/writing was (excuse the poor parallelism). I can appreciate the attempt by young people to see the Civil Right's folk in a different light, but this is the quintessential #FAIL.
And who is supposed to be Barack Obama's Marylin Monroe??
Jamie P.
King's sexual proclivities and penchant for prostitutes is well-documented. Do some reading. Malcom was a womanizing pimp prior to his conversion to Islam, but he was also a supporter of Elijah Muhammad - the serial pedophile. Doesn't diminish his place in history, but my comments remain the same. The women had moral high-ground and often kept the dark secrets of their husband's marital infidelities to themselves.
Again... do some reading... and not just stuff you like. I notice how you fociued on ONE statement in my entire comment post.
RMA,
Yes, I meant Coretta Scott. King's children have no right to say anything about the bastardization of their mother and father's legacy, particularly because they behave as bufoons.
Malcolm X's daughters are also embroiled in some legal fights because they cannot agree on how to proceed with their mother's and father's unpublished works.
I just contacted them and expressed my displeasure at the sketch contact them!
http://elitedeltaforce3.com/
I view the video, left a bad taste in my mouth. Sad and alot of young african american female and male will think that this video is truthful and funny.
If this was about historical Black men, people would be in arms. It's very much fine to make jest at Black women, and they're often told to "pipe down" whenever they express their disgust at being mocked.
While these people are entitled to create whatever they wish, I can't help but think how TACKY it is to put this out during BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
@BlkSeaGoat
Dr. King cheating on his wife was wrong. However, I've never read of him publicly justifying or glamorizing his behavior. Contrast this to those celebrities of our era who joke about adultery (e.g. David Letterman) or all but blame their wives for their evil acts (Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Bishop Gene Robinson, etc.).
King's adultery is worthy of criticism, but we should be even more critical of those who promote it.
Your attack on Malcolm X as a "hypocrite" for being an ex-womanizer is really baffling. After converting to the NOI's version of Islam, he lived out its doctrine that the only safe and sacred sex was between a husband and a wife. If you had evidence that Malcolm cheated on Betty Shabazz, then your argument would be valid.
One more thing. Malcolm X had no qualms calling those Black Muslims out for any hypocrisy. So, it was not shocking when Malcolm left the NOI when its leader, Elijah Muhammad, refused to step down over his pedophilia.
King's sexual proclivities and penchant for prostitutes is well-documented. Do some reading.
Have you done your reading? The only evidence out there supports that he had extramarital affairs with some black women around him. The notion of sex with white prostitutes or prostitutes of any color as well as other accusations is unfounded and was flatly denied by those around him including Abernathy.
A significant aspect of Malcom X's legend is the fact that he came from the gutter to become someone of such great stature and after becoming a member of the Nation of Islam, practiced a level of ethics and morality few others could. Plus, Malcolm was not part of the civil rights movement, but was rather critical of it. He and Elija Muhammad were leaders in a black separatist movement as was Betty Shabazz who, like Malcolm, was a supporter of Elija Muhammad.
And Elija Muhammad was NOT a pedophile. The liberal use of that term has become ridiculous. He appareltly fathered children with some "teenage girls". Those who are 18 and 19 are teenagers and being that the overwhelmingly vast majority of teenage girls are post-pubescent, he would not be a pedophile. What he did was wrong and possibly illegal, but not pedophilia. These miniscule examples don't support your assertion of widespread bad behavior among black male civil rights leaders. Not in the least bit.
I can't see the video yet, but I am quite confident that it is demeaning and deserving of contempt. It should be condemned and I will join in in doing so, but using it as an excuse or means to demean another group cheapens the goal of stopping the degrading of black women. Demeaning black men is not the answer to uplifting black women. Both the men and women of the civil rights movent are people deserving of respect and admiration.
This is a byproduct of cynicism. America has been sipping on a strong cup of it for quite awhile. It's now easy to claim there should be no sacred cows, no inspiring heroes...and even though none of the women featured in this so-called comedic skit every did anything to deserve such low class humor directed towards them...many today choose to mock and ridicule rather than appreciate and admire what was did in service to all of us in the here and now. Another blogger was able to watch the video and create a transcript. I printed it out and took it home to my 61 year old mother...who immediately was offended and not by any means amused...but then again she comes from a different era AND she remembers being a child of Wetumpka, Alabama and all that that brought with it.
Jamie P wrote
What a ridiculous and false statement. Hypocritically defending the defamation of black women by defaming black men. What a very productive tactic.
Too true.
Some Black people have embraced the mindset that relations between Black men and Black women are a zero sum conflict. Hence, if a Black man succeeds morally, financially, etc., then his success must somehow diminish Black women as a whole. Conversely, if a Black woman succeeds morally, financially, etc., then it harms Black men as a whole.
The idea that Black men and Black women should be judged on a case by case basis is lost on such Black people.
I'm done with Black people. This is ridiculous. Actually, why even publish it and give this publicity/ I question the timing that these fools decided to make such a skit, with so much negativity coming out about Black women already. And since Wayne Brady was originally married to a non-Black woman, I guess he's showing us all what he really thinks of Black women.
You all, we can keep being angry and writing letters to these idiots trashing Black women, or we can start putting out alternative images. This is just terrible to me, and I'm really done now. It's just so sad
I saw this a couple of weeks ago. It had very few Youtube views so I don't think anyone should give these women any more publicity. Its disrespectful and its not even funny Its less than 5 minutes and I still wasn't interested enough to watch the whole thing.
@ Jamie P, well pedo or not, Elijah Muhammad had sex with several very young girls and fathered several children by some of these very young girls, including one now known as Mother Tynetta Muhammad. I believe the youngest was about 15 years old or 16 years old at the time. Even if you believe in polygamy, clearly they were not his wives and clearly, for a moment he forgot about his wife, Mother Clara Muhammad. But please be careful here, I've met some of the many children over the years, the mess was indeed a real mess, especially after EM died and left no will, therefore folks were fighting for more than 10 year over where did his private property and where did NOI property begin and end. And then the deals that were made . . . . And yes, after he converted to Islam/NOI, Malcolm X was probably the most principled, disciplined and faithful of all of them.
Some men back then and now do indeed hustle the movement -- for women (or secretly with men), money or air time, demeaning the sacredness of the movement. Women, as a rule haven't been known for such scandals, unless they are "the other woman." Rev. James Bevel, a key activist along side Dr. King, went to jail a few years ago for sexually abusing his teenage daughter, he died in jail, and he never really accepted responsibility for what he did. Did any of us ever hear Rev. Al or Rev. Messy say anything about that situation? NO!
The issue here is not one of tearing down the men or the women, men vs women, etc. The real issue here is why do we allow patriarchy, greed and arrogance of individuals or a small groups of individuals to embarass us and the movement?
And Abernathy, are you kidding me? Didn't he write a book WHILE HE WAS HANGING WITH REV. MOON and mentioned Dr. King and the women? Please!
I agree with BSG.When I saw this I thought isn't this backwards?my bad, but I really did though
I thought this was pretty funny, but maybe you have to have seen the real housewives of Atlanta to appreciate the humor. I thought it was a send up of that show more than a dissing of these ladies. If these ladies were alive today I'm pretty sure that is how they would have come across on any one of the real housewives' franchises.
But there you go, people are offended by different things. I am so much more offended by Tyler Perry's Madea than I am by this.
Can't watch the video at work, but will try to remember to watch at home. But for now:
"February 21, 2011 | revmamaafrika MLK Jr. or MX's kids should walk up to them and put them on blast. :( :( :("
Unofrutnately, MLK's kids & MX's kids are too busy fighting over bulls--t in court to care about anyone's portrayals of their parents. SMDH.
so this was making fun of rhoa by asking what if the civil right ladies had no class and were a mess like the rhoa's?
I'm just trying to understand the funny behind it because I just don't get it.I don't find it funny.
"Tommie", you are so wrong about Betty Shabazz--she never acted like some character on a reality show. She was a warm, dignified, funny, accomplished human being who exuded class. I know this because I met Betty Shabazz before she died and I was very impressed by her. I'm no hero-worshiper by any means and was not prepared to like her; but I found her to be a very genuine, well-meaning person. Betty Shabazz was a "lady" in every sense of the word; and does not deserve you or this ridiculous, disrespectful minstrel show of a video casting unwarranted aspersions on her character. Don't assume things you don't know and don't slander people who are really worthy of our respect--Betty was the real deal and not some media construction for PR purposes.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Coretta Scott King; but I never heard anything but good things about her from people who did know her well.
I'm not casting aspersions on anyone. No one is suggesting that this is a real and accurate portrayal of the folks involved. It is satire and it is the TV show that is being satirized. I get that you don't find it funny and thats fine. Some people do. Just sayin.
I love satire (see Confederate States of America more of a mockumentary, but the insurance commercial gets me every time) but this was a hot foolish mess. It's like disrespecting your mother. My mom can say some foolish stuff but I would never belittle her in her face or behind her back. Granted I'm not related to any of these women in a linear sense, but this was/is like attacking my "mother." I used to follow RHOA so I get the jokes, and if these women were not the pilliars of the civil rights movement it would've been funny...er...amusing.
I'm interested in what everyone thinks of The Inmate Wives of Baltimore....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW9-WnZG6HI
Revmamaafrika
The late Endesha Ida Mae Holland was a prominent figure during the Civil Rights Movement, gained her PHD and became a successful play write. She was a former prostitute. Some involved in the movement had shady pasts and made human errors. That doesn't mean that they deserve defamation whether male or female. It would be wrong and misrepresentative of the great sistas of the movement as well as the great brothas.
And yes, it was Abernathy's book where he denied that MLK dealt with prostitutes of any race and he stated that MLK did have affairs solely with some black women associates. You claimed that he dealt with prostitutes and accused me of not reading for disputing this assertion. I disputed this assertion because I have been reading. White racists started the rumor about prostitutes.
Da-yumn! I wasn't even paying attention (which is how I missed this). Ladies again, seriously, a.g.a.i.n. for the young ones who are still confused at how this whole let go and say goodbye actually happens (pageant contestant hand-wave), Jamie.P. /Harrold (with an unnecessary L) has only popped up on this BLACK WOMEN&GIRLS blog to defend black men. Ya'll already know that he is not chastising black men and boys (on THEIR SITES) for THEIR tomfoolery, while what was stated in this comment thread is documented and recorded by the government (AND PROVED CORRECT). So look at those sorry-azz statements and move along. Digest what he said, and know what to look out for in the next line of deferment from your def-amement. For those who are interested, yes... all of those "bad" statements are factually correct. Honestly, this kneegrow is in lock-step of what to watch out for. Smart Black women and girls, take notes. He's a classroom assignment in who to avoid. I would laugh, except, he is exactly too da-yum obvious for those with a clue and those without... some money to buy one. Be in the latter half if not in the former.
My bad. Unnecessary "r". Whoops. I'm no expert at hood-phonics.
@dailylattes now how did you figure out Harold and Jamie P are the same person without me pointing that out?
I was going to say something, but I find it amusing that he thinks changing his name will hide his agenda. And yes, they are EXACTLY the same person and yes, they are OBSESSED with this blog. And no, they aren't going to Black men's blogs chastising them. BUt that's what people who think Black women are second class citizens do. Whenever they show up, its a sign that y'all are right on target and something good for Black women must be happening on the blog or in the comments.
People willing to do anything for money is not new but it is still sad, and people who have and agend is nothing new either but both are still sad.
@Blogmother
Frankly, there is enough stupidity, wickedness, and blame to go around.
It's sick that the director demeans Civil Rights icons for a buck. But it's equally sick that the actresses are accomplices just for a paycheck.
You don't see Angela Bassett or Denzel Washington playing any role for fast buck. That's the mark of Black person with integrity.
So the take home remains the same Jamie and Fred. If this video spoof were called the REAL men of the Civil Rights, it would be TOTALLY accurate.
See, in our attempt to worship black men (and I say this as a black man) we make a myriad of excuses for them to justify their morally bankrupt and hypocritical behavior. My comments weren't specific to MLK or Malcolm, but to nearly ALL fo the men who led the movement. They were "c@ck-hounds" as my Great-Grandmother put it and their wives bore the embarrasment and hurt of having to keep their husband's trifling behavior under wraps because like many/ALL black women, they believed in sacrificing their own dignity to save face for black men and their indiscretions. Sanitize history all you want, but doing so makes you both intellectually dishonest.
I didn't engage in maligning black men. What I stated initially remains the same and you can both play in traffic if you don't like it.
@BlkSeaGoat
You are entitled to your own opinions, not your own facts.
It is true that Coretta Scott King and other covered up Dr. King's adultery. However, there is NO evidence that Malcolm X cheated on Betty Shabazz. That is a fact.
Here are some more facts.
* It is a fact that Malcolm X was pretty open about his evil past in various venues. The best know is
"The Autobiography of Malcolm X" now on sale at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Malcolm-Penguin-Modern-Classics/dp/0141185430/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298522751&sr=1-1
If you lack funds, the book is available for free at libraries
* It is a fact that Malcolm was so candid about his past to prove how Islam could free Black man from womanizing, drug addiction, racial self-hatred, and other sins.
* It is a fact that Malcolm did not know ahead of time that Elijah Muhammad was a pedophile. Unlike Roman Polanski, Muhammad didn't publicly broadcast his evil behavior from the rooftops.
* It is a fact that Malcolm X tried to get Muhammad to admit his sins and promptly left the NOI when Muhammad refused.
So, given all the evidence, why are you lying about Malcolm X being a hypocrite? Why do you have this desire to tear down people who succeed and want to help other Black people do the same?
I hope the answer isn't envy because that would be a sad reason indeed.
@dailylattes now how did you figure out Harold and Jamie P are the same person without me pointing that out?
You pointed that out back on February 6th on the Bride of Blackenstein blog. "Harrold" has not appeared since February 3rd. I thought that we had moved on.
I changed my posting name in an attempt to start fresh with a far more civil tone and more openmindedness which I believe that I have done. I apologize for not first declaring that I was changing my name.
But BLKSeaGoat, you restate your claim yet fail to substantiate it. You speak of Malcolm's pre-activist past (which he was always open about) and Elija Muhammid (a non-mainstream black separatist cult leader) and MLK's affairs. Do you include Bayard Rustin as morally bankrupt?
What about Claude Black, Thurgood Marshall, James Farmer, Medgar Evers, Ralph Abernathy, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Boise, Frederick Doublas, Marcus Garvey, just to name a few? The vast majority of the men and women of the civil rights were morally upstanding. That skit does not represent the women and would not represent the men. The video is of poor taste as is most humor today. It is an unfortunate trend in today's society and unfortunately, too many people will see it as no more than something they truly see as funny. Some things are just no longer sacred.
Um, yeah. That was not funny at all. So much for celebrating our women's achievements during Black History Month...
Wow, I am dumbfounded right now. To show so much disrespect is disgusting. Who thought it was a good idea to portray these women like that. Betty carrying guns, MLK calling Corretta a B**** and Coretta saying Macolm X is the father of her kids? Really, how is that funny? Also, what does Marilyn Monroe have to do with; I get that she was JFK's mistress and he was kind of involved in Civil Rights Movement, but she doesn't even need to be placed with the others. And why is Wayne Brady in this? Did he really think this was funny? But I guess that is the culture we live in; remember Barbershop when Cedric the Entertainer said all Rosa Parks did was sit her a** down. We live in a culture of disrespect and reconstructing of history. Sad.
"Do you include Bayard Rustin as morally bankrupt?"
Interesting that blkseagoat won't respond to that.