Is DL Hughley Taking Blacks Backwards?

I'm not sure if any of you have catched comedien DL Hughley's late night talk show on CNN titled, "DL Hughley Breaks the News". Since this election inception, I've become a CNN junkie. So I've seen the first two episodes that have aired thus far... and I must say... I'm not too thrilled and neither are several other critics.

It's all too obvious that the network is feeling the pressure to add to it's line up and compete with other networks that have a satirical political/news show, but I think the folks over at CNN are a little off base with this one.

When you watch the show it's like you're sitting their watching one of the most legendary comediens out there dive bomb every single punch line he throws out. His audience is predominately white and it's apparent that they don't understand DL's sense of humor. The other CNN contributors that appear on the show are not funny either. I was really hoping that this show would be good for the network... but in my mind... it's just not working.

Journalist and culture critic Jimi Izrael offered harsh words for both Hughley and CNN for a skit depicting mortgage company Freddie Mac as a black pimp.

“When Hughley brought out Donnell Rawlings (most famous for his many roles on the Chappell Show) to play ‘Freddie Mack [sic], I had to check my watch: never have I seen a program jump the shark so quickly,” Izrael says of the skit. “This is someone’s white hipster doofus’ idea of post-racial humor in the New America: Chappelle Lite. The good folks at CNN think that any black person talking loud must be funny. They are mistaken.” Izrael concluded saying the show “has no place on CNN.”

Paul Porter, co-founder of media watchdog group Industry Ears says that even though America may elect its first African American president this Tuesday, “televison news is still stuck in a ‘Jim Crow’ state of mind. DL's material was immensely stereo typical, but calculated programming that continues to stifle mainstream media perceptions,” Porter states. “CNN's attempt of a Flava Flav style of African American entertainment is an alarming step backward for a respected news organization.”

Dr. Boyce Watkins was also not pleased with what he saw and heard on Hughley’s show. "Nearly every joke on Hughley’s show came back to some generalized stereotype, reminding us that African Americans are seen as relatively trifling “social critters” and not much of anything else. My good friend Roland Martin at CNN has never received the same respect as political caricatures like Nancy Grace and Glenn Beck. So, the most degrading thing CNN can do is to finally give an African American a show after he agrees to turn the stellar Obama presidential campaign into a minstrel show. I am not sure if Flavor Flav or Juan Williams (the educated version of Flavor Flav) could have done a better job.”

And there you have it folks. Not many of us are pleased with the show. I think it's more of five steps backswards for our people... especially right now when we are about to elect our first black president who is highly educated, well spoken, and charismatic... all things most white folks didn't believe us po' black folks had in us!

Let's Not Forget About Christian Bale

Can I just make a quick statement? Just real quick... I love Heath Ledger just like everybody else, and I know his performance in The Dark Knight is worthy of many accolades, but let's not forget about the main character of the movie BATMAN, who is played by extraordinary actor Christian Bale. I'm sure that most of us are pretty tired of the Batman movies just as we are with any overrun sequel, but really... if Heath were still alive today, would he be getting all of the praise that he's getting now after his demise?

Not trying to take away from the role that Heath played in the movie, because I hear he did a bang up job, but you don't hear -ish about how Christian did. Rolling Stone called Bale's performance "electrifying", and Variety calls him "commandingly charasmatic". So give the dude his props ya'll and stop leaving him out of the equation.

Love Is Blind

When it comes to love... I see no color! I never have. Growing up in a diverse community in California, taught me to love with no boundaries. Now, more so than ever, we are seeing more and more interracial couples popping up. Of course, we have always seen the proverbial black male/white female relationships, but in today's society and with the so called "shortage of good black men", black women are turning to other options. What are the reasons behind this trend becoming so widely accepted? Could it be because we're not being challenged by our own black men? Or the fact that, most of our black men are incarcerated?

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the number of black women/white men marriages skyrocketed from 60,000 in 1993 to 122,000 in 1995. Why are more Black women dating White men? Some professionals argue that the reason why more black women are turning to white men or outside of the black race in general, is the fact that the education levels are not balanced. Most black women prefer a man that has equal to or greater than educational knowledge than themselves. Dr. Tyrone Carter says that the alarming rate of black women flowing over to white men should send a wake up call to the brothers out there. This should tell them that maybe they need to re-evaluate who they are and what they have to bring to the table. I agree with that sentiment. But does it really matter? Aren't we taught to love for what is on the inside and not the outside? But what I have noticed, and this is just my opinion; I've noticed that when you date some black men, you hardly get the attention that you need/deserve. But with the white men that I have dated, it was like meeting a whole new species. I'm not saying that all white men are perfect or they know how to treat you, the percentage of white families where there was both a mother and a father present, typically shows the children how married life should be and what it is like to be committed to someone. In most black american families, the percentage of two parent homes are lower, thus usally resulting in the men leaving and the family to be taken care of by the mother. I think most of you know what I'm getting at here. I shouldn't have to spell it out for you. Remember, this is MY OPINION!

The movie Something New with Sanaa Lathan and Simon Baker gave the world a peek into what it's like for a proud black woman to step outside of her comfort zone and try something new and exciting. Despite, what the main character in the movie surmised what true love should be like, i.e., successful black man meets equally successful black woman, she found herself falling for the total opposite. A white man, who from first glance, didn't seem equally as smart, but was, and a man who lived a meager lifestyle. Sanaa's character found herself falling for this man. I'm sure in the beginning it's purely curiosity, but you have to let your guard down sometimes. You can't help who you fall in love with; You can fight it... but you damn sure can't help it. Look at the Hollywood starlets below who have no shame in sharing their interracial love!

Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa

Paula Patton and Robin Thicke

Sharon Leal and husband Bev Land

Venus Williams and boyfriend Hank Kuehne

Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and husband Mike Nilon

Halle Berry and long-term boyfriend Gabriel Aubrey

Justin Chambers and wife Keisha Chambers

Keesha Sharp and husband Bradford Sharp

Hottest MC In The Game Is...

Last summer, the folks over at MTV compiled a list of "The Hottest Mc's In the Game" at that time. This list was based off of lyrical content, flow, how they've impacted the game, success and swagger. The group of men that comprised this list are called the MTV News Hip Hop Brain Trust with MTV veejay Sway as the head of the group. The group recently got together and revised last years list and came up with a newer more current list using the same criteria but only judging on the success of last year. The New list is as follows:

1) Kayne West

2) Jay-Z

3) Lil Wayne

4) Rick Ross

5) Snoop

6) 50 Cent

7) Lupe Fiasco

8) Young Jeezy

9) Andre 3000

10) T.I.

IMO, this list isn't accurate. Remember this is just my opinion folks. I know that they are judging on success and impact on the game. What I look at is most respected, fierce lyrics, most listened to, who has something of value to say, and simply who's hot. If someone asked me to comprise my own list... it would be like this:

1) Lil Wayne

2) Kanye West

3) Jay-Z

4) Andre 3000

5) Lupe Fiasco

6) T.I.

7) Mos Def

8) Talib Kweli

9) Common

10) 50 Cent

I'm a true HIP HOP fiend. I'm more into what you have to say and if your music says something to me. I don't want to here about how many ki's of dope you moved and have stashed, how many whips you drive, how big your crib is, or how many babes you done bagged in one week. I could care less about that kind of crap. Say something that's going to speak to the masses. Make a statement with your music. I believe my list does that. Remember... This is just my opinion