James Blake and His Come to Jesus Moment

If you have been following the news, the latest victim of America's out of control police, was former tennis star, James Blake. Mr. Blake was standing outside of NY hotel when he was tackled by NYPD because he resembled a suspect from an open investigation. The ironic thing is this "open case" was not a murder, robbery, stabbing, shooting, no, it was the white collar crime of identity theft.

I called this his "come to Jesus moment." In reality, I don't know Mr. Blake's religious affiliation,  nor do I care, and this doesn't have anything to do with Jesus. Sometimes new Negroes and black celebrities, which sometimes can be one in the same, need to be reminded that they are black.

You see every day when I am on social media, there is some "new black" (black folks who are so educated, have so much money, have a certain number of white friends, that they believe that they are white by association) or some low key racist white person (you know the ones who always quote MLK to quell black anger, try to tell black people who to vote for, love the Confederate flag, and who have a few token black friends, so they can't be racist (insert eyeroll), think they are being deep by quoting the latest crime statistics on black on black crime, or publishing memes of blacks at their worst, with sermon type commentary of how blacks need to do better, which we refer to as respectability politics. Respectability politics is the belief that if you speak correct English, do not have gold teeth, have dual degrees, drive a nice car, don't live in the hood, don't sag your pants, have a clean criminal record, etc.etc.etc. that you are somehow immune to white supremacy, racism, and you will be treated fairly by cops and those in position of authority, and if you are guilty of any of these grave sins and are murdered by cops or civilians alike, well, it is okay because black folks kill each other, so we should be more concerned about that.

So this is why although I hate that Mr. Blake had that experience, there is a small part of me that is glad that it happened. Close your mouth in disgust and shock! Sometimes it takes things like this happening to the so called "respectable Negroes" for people to pay attention to what I and others more distinguished than me have been trying to tell you'll for years. Our country has a serious problem with race! Electing President Obama twice did not cure it! Neither did it magically disappear after your ancestors murdered Dr. King (You can stop quoting him now!).

So the question now becomes, what are we going to do about it? Quoting Dr. King, electing a black president, having friends of other races, and posting "deep memes" haven't worked! Because I don't know about you, but I am tired of black mothers burying their children, and their murderers getting GoFundme fundraisers, media interviews, and book deals, as opposed to life in prison and/or a needle in their arms.

Until next time.....