You feel like you’re in a Halloween sequel (although some of us never saw the original). The protagonist – Jason – without a y. White mask. Axe to grind. Through the curtain you see the knife stab up, and down. Up, and down. Over and over.
Hold it. Mixing psychos with Psycho.
Which may summarize how the New York Times feels – in the midst of psycho, Psycho, PSYCHO. Created in their midst.
But is Jayson Blair a nut?”
He admits he formerly abused drugs and alcohol.
Suffered from depression.
Considered suicide – in a café bathroom – the day the Washington Post divulged his plagiarism.
If you skip #3, a lot of us are nuts.
He also wants to burn his previous boss, figuratively. According to the Post, Blair’s book proposal – “Burning Down My Master’s House – rages the Times was his “tormentor, other drug, and slave master.” It also will be a major tell-all of the Times “secrets”, including an editor’s affair with an intern. Ooooh. Been there, heard that, bored by that.
The next reaction – that he has a book – expected it. Stephen Glass, of similar plagiarism fame (see commentary – Please Tell Me He Wasn’t Black – 5/13/03), is currently pimping his new book. Other fifteen-minutes-of-famers cashed in when they could. So should Blair forgo his potential six-figure plus payday?
According to Reuters – he may have no choice, because many of the major publishing houses have shown no interest. One reportedly said they wouldn’t touch the book with a ten-foot pole, while another put the bar at “for a million dollars.”
Yeah right!
Side note. Subreaction to second reaction – pissed. Based on media coverage, Blair is a much bigger story than Glass.
So why no interest?
Fear of the Times? Their reach is international and their Book Review is a must-be-in.
Punishment of a brotha who embarrassed a lot of status quo? Of course not. That never happens.
The fifteen minutes is up? Humph, a quick internet search found several major sites carried a Blair story. Not front page. Primarily about the book proposal. But in the paper, nevertheless. Somebody cares. Then add in disgruntled Times employees (there has to be one among the almost ten thousand). Add in competitor employees who love to revel in another’s dirt, add a few more nosies, a supposed tell-all book should generate a few sales.
Humph, back to the initial reactions.
#3 – embarrassment. Blair does not deny he lied and plagiarized. In fact, according to his book proposal, he enjoyed committing them. Guess it was his way of getting back at his “tormentor, other drug, and slave master.”
Remember blacks are like ants under a microscope – part of a collective. What one feels, is felt by all. What one accomplishes, all accomplishes. When one screws up, all feel the heat. To differing degrees, but a degree nevertheless.
So it doesn’t matter black folks are not responsible for his actions. Or did not tell him to write a tell-all book. Or will receive not one penny of the advance or royalties, unless Blair recycles his dollars in the community (which since he lives in Harlem, he probably does). By the way, how many others do that?
With the media cry to ban diversity and an expectation of black folks to defend it (including by black folks), a brotha screaming racism in a book, after what he did, … oh yeah, exactly what black folks want to hear. So this brotha should crawl into the East River. Quietly. And any defense previously received is withdrawn, cuz now you’re not helping the collective. And you don’t seem to care.
And as to whether he should care? Dumb question. Never alienate your true fan base. Even O.J. went to Crenshaw after the trial.
So getting past the brainwashing guilt, the last reaction – cracked up. Deep down. On the floor.
Cuz people – never, ever, PISS A BROTHA OFF!!
Blair is going to tell all the Times’ business (whatever that may be). Expose everybody – no ethnicity exceptions. Give back all that he feels he was not given.
That’s funny.
Proobably had a nice office spot, top-of-the-line notebook, expense account. Got paid beaucoup bucks. To make up stories.
That’s funny.
Okay it’s sad too. And pathetic. And disappointing. Get past it and think.
There are few people who like their jobs AND the company they work for. With no complaints.
More like their jobs but can’t stand the company. Most tolerate both cuz it’s a means to an end – the paycheck.
That’s a lot of folks (all genders, ethnicities, and cultures) who’d probably like to stick it to their companies – at least once. Nothing illegal. Nothing requiring firearms. Definitely nothing where you’d get fired. Okay Blair violated two of the three. But that doesn’t change he got away with someone common folk would love to do – give some of the umph back. And he’s apparently giving it back good.
That’s funny.
Jayson Blair is living what sometimes seems the second American Dream – ‘do unto others, when they’ve done unto you.’
Wait, that’s not funny. But it’s true.
We want to get back because it feels good (we’re angry); we don’t like being a doormat (we’re angry); and some folks need to learn a lesson (we’re still angry). Surely there are other reasons, but these three popped up quickly. It can also feel hollow. Because the anger felt, the feeling miserable, the feeling like a doormat, and wanting others to learn a lesson can just be a mask for issues we need to work out within ourselves – like how we allowed ourselves to be in the situation in the first place.
Blair has things to work out. If the book helps, blessings and salutations.
This writer has more pressing issues to bother with.
That’s not funny, but it brings a smile to the face.
P.S. Asked a twenty year old black man what he thought of Jayson Blair, the media’s reaction, collective guilt, and working it out.
He said, “Who? What?”
Now that’s really not funny.
