Please Tell Me He’s Wasn’t Black

But oh Lord he is.

Jayson Blair is at the center of the “biggest scandal” (media words) ever seen by the New York Times – he made the stories up.  A lot of them.

And every black person who’s heard this news is pissed – not just for what he did, but what he is – a black man.

Worse, the editorial higher ups at the Times – Raines and Boyd – also black.

Much worse, they were his mentors.

Even worse, they pushed his promotions because of diversity.

Anything else?  Let’s just pray there is no paper trail that shows cover-up, instead of help-up.

The only good news so far – the owner of the Times is white, promoted the black head honchos, and is standing behind his honchos.  But we all know what that means.

No, the best hope black folks have is that if Mr. Blair had a girlfriend, she’s a long-legged blond with bright blue eyes.  Then racial ownership can be shifted to the far right – on Clarence Thomas Lane.

Blair being black is one of black folks’ biggest fears.  We know the repercussions.  We’ve seen the brush strokes.

You want to make folks vote against expansion of public transportation (hello, Cobb County Georgia) – talk about the crime element that will be brought into the county.

Translation – all those urban Negroes from Atlanta will pillage our farms and rape our women.

You want to make Democrats look soft on crime – Willie Horton, Willie Horton, Willie Horton.

Want to tighten the welfare aid requirements – talk about the single black mother raising kids by different daddies.  Doesn’t matter that number wise – blacks do not make up the largest recipients of welfare aid.

Want to eliminate diversity and affirmative action programs – even though segregation and Jim Crow and the good old boys network were and are the largest and longest lived affirmative action programs in the history of the United States – show a picture of Jayson Blair and say “See, told you so.”  Doesn’t matter that other journalists have been fired for making up stories.  Or that a lot of black folks have written and will write quality truthful stories.

When a black folk does something good, it’s an individual accomplishment.  The only exception to this comes in athletics where a great accomplishment leads to a reminder about the natural, Lord forgive us if it was intelligence, ability black folk show in sports.  Bowling and golf, probably sumo wrestling, are exceptions.

When a black folk does something bad, it’s a group error.  A shooting at the Capitol, kidnapping of children (Susan Smith), rape, cop shooting, yadda, yadda, but not school shootings (not a black domain generally) – black people pray hard – “Lord don’t let him or her be black.”  And breath is held.  Until a picture is shown.  Then there’s a shouting sigh of relief, an under the breath, “damn”, or both (again, Susan Smith).

So when they’re black we’re embarrassed cuz we feel the brush stroke (The National Association of Black Journalists has already issued a “don’t brush us” statement.  But when do white organizations apologize for their stupid members?)  We don’t want to talk about this outside the family.  Other folks with sense try to show they don’t brush.  And others just get stupid brushing, brushing, brushing.  It’s all a twirl of a sick perpetuating dance.

And the saddest part, black folks are as guilty of painting the brush as everybody else.

How many times has a black person said or thought, “I will never use/go to/hire another black person again.”  Don’t lie.            Fortunately there are others who know and say better – “Excuse me.  Do you say that about white folks or Asians?  Didn’t think so.  Step (and show the palm of your hand).”

But in fairness, it’s hard to do 100% elimination of this slavery brainwashing byproduct.  Even for the enlightened.

This weekend in thinking about a friend who is having a hard time with a black owned company, and myself who has received lousy service from a similar type company, I said, “I will never …”  Oops, stopped myself.

Deprogramming is a never-ending process.

But you can’t expect others to do it if you don’t.

And you can’t not do it, just because others don’t or it’s hard.

So for all the pundits who made the not subtle hint that ‘see diversity and affirmative action are bad, look at Jayson Blair,’ look at yourself.  You’re more an embarrassment than he ever will be.

To the pundits who are trying but afraid to just come out and say ‘this is one individual, do not throw out the baby with the dirty bath water’, yeah, the world has swung to the right but compromise your integrity a little here, it gets compromised a lot later.

And to all the brothers and sisters who hear these words, I know – did he have to be black?