What the College Protests Teach Us
MIT protests. AP Photo. Charles Krupa.
If you know nothing about the tsunami of protests sweeping across college campuses nationwide, or all that you’ve heard paints the protesters as violent, radical, anti-semites, you’ve got a mainstream media matrix to thank – where 90% of all local news outlets (TV and print) and cable news stations are owned by six lily white corporations. But thanks to social media, there are some important lessons we can glean from what’s really going down. 1) The sickening predictability of some folk to label any criticism of Israel or any recognition of the humanity of the 30,000-plus (and counting) Palestinians who’ve been killed, as “anti-semitic;” 2) the power wielded by activists; 3) young folk are waking to injustices beyond the genocide in Palestine and to anti-democratic forces operating all around us; 4) it’s our tax dollars funding wars and oppression that we don’t want; 5) the consistent push by some for apartheid-level dominance over people of color, whether in South Africa, the US or Palestine; and 6) when the “powers that be” feel threatened they’ll treat mainly privileged, white and Asian college kids and faculty like Black Lives Matter protesters (i.e. with all levels of brutality), for merely peacefully protesting. There’s a Great Awakening happening that extends far beyond the Gaza Strip, and it’s calling for respect for and protection of our collective humanity. Powers that be, beware.
Celebrating Candace Parker
Candace Parker. AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson.
While many in the women’s hoop world are celebrating the Caitlin Clark Coronation, can we take a moment to appreciate the greatness of the now-retired WNBA great Candace Parker? Parker was/is a winner on and off the court. Between the lines, at every level, she delivered: two-time NCAA national champion (Tennessee Volunteers); three-time WNBA champion – with three different teams; WNBA Rookie of the Year; two-time league MVP; two-time Olympic gold medalist. This sister from the Chi let her superstar light shine while hooping, serving community or “serving” her teammates on “The NBA on TNT” with her pinpoint analyses, unmistakable class and magnetic charm. But most folk miss the fact that Parker helped save the WNBA. After the league was founded in 1996 and those mighty Houston Comets won the league’s first four titles, bringing attention and eyes to the game, there was a period when the WNBA teetered on folding. Hell, the two WNBA teams Dawn Staley played for (Charlotte Sting and Houston Comets) don’t even exist anymore. But thanks in large part to the magnificence of Parker, the WNBA persevered and now stands on the verge of blowing up. And when it does, and becomes more popular and profitable than the NBA and NFL, I hope someone remembers none of that would be possible without Candace Parker.
Always Bet on Black
Wesley Snipes as John Cutter in the classic movie ‘Passenger 57’ where he gave us the advice, ‘Always bet on Black.’ (Courtesy: Warner Bros.)
Author/economist Michael Harriot and Pan-African thought leader Dr. Greg Carr made the airtight case that whenever Black people fought in a U.S. war, we weren’t fighting for any particular side. Hell, more Blacks fought with the British during the Revolutionary War than with the “American” forces. Rather, Black soldiers fought for Black people – for the side they thought gave us the best shot at freedom. Conscious media icon Tiffany Cross made a similar point when challenging the idea that Blacks have a “slavish” devotion to the Democratic Party. Cross contends Blacks have always voted to mitigate harm and violence from whites; voting for the party or candidate we believe will do us the least harm. And it’s less about voting for the “lesser of two evils” than it is voting for a reality where we have higher odds at living while Black without getting beaten by cops, redlined out of wealth, or suppressed out of voting power. As we move closer to the November election, let’s vote using this same approach; the strategy mentioned by Wesley Snipes in “Passenger 57” – “Always bet on Black!”
