I remember the times when it wasn’t a problem to state your opinion on people and events.
Now that the blockbuster hit “Barbershop”, has hit the big screen with jokes about Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King, a whirlwind of debate has been stirred up in the African American community.
When I heard the jokes made by Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer), the “elder statesman” of the barbershop about Rosa Parks not giving up her seat on a Montgomery bus and Dr. King being referred to as a “ho”, I laughed. I couldn’t believe the writers of the movie went there, but that’s the way I have heard black people talk for years.
The ringleaders of the debate, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton are blowing the entire thing out of proportion.
For years we have embraced humorous satire of historical events and of prominent African-Americans in our society as entertaining. However, now that our “behind closed door” conversations and back porch ideologies have gone mainstream via the big screen, the “voices of black folks everywhere” are in an uproar.
I think the whole point of the jokes was overlooked in the midst of the debate over Dr. King’s alleged infidelities and Mrs. Parks role in the Civil Rights Movement. There are many things we deem as taboo in the black community. We may not talk about them around white folks, but we surely vocalize them within our comfort zone (i.e. the barbershop). Although it may not have been illustrated in the pages of history books, blacks were being beaten, arrested, and thrown in jail for refusing to give up their seats on buses and lunch counters across the country years before Rosa Parks. All due respect to Mrs. Parks, but her actions weren’t more important than any other person who fought for equal rights during that turbulent time in American history. She just happened to be in the right place at that right time to gain the attention that brought the struggles of our people to the forefront.
And as for Dr. King being labeled as a “ho”, that is disrespectful term to refer to anyone. His alleged an adulterous behavior is an arguable point that anyone can make, but for Jackson and Sharpton to condemn it from coming out of the mouth of a black person is out of line. People are free to say whatever and however they feel about a person.
Over the years Jackson and Sharpton have made many public remarks attacking the character of prominent individuals.
Many other prominent black figures are taking the stand on the fact that the comments can give the wrong impression on the legacies of such historical movers and shakers.
Number one, the film is rated PG-13, which means parental guidance is required for those under age 13. By the age of 13 I’m sure that everyone knows the significance that King and Park played in shaping our country. Number 2, it is not the media’s job to educate our children about our history. Whether or not they are getting it in the classroom,, it’s a parent’s responsibility to teach their child on our culture and historical background. If parents do that, our children will be able to distinguish what is historically inaccurate and what is a harmless joke.
We are wasting time, energy, money, and television space on this subject. Sharpton and Jackson, “the voice of black folks everywhere”, should be spending this time criticizing President Bush’s plan to send our troops to fight Suddam Hussein. Sharpton should be on the Sunday morning talk show circuit criticizing the recent incidents of racial profiling among our Arab brothers and sisters. (We aren’t the only ones being pulled over because of the color of our skin and the way that we dress). There are a 1,001 other problems Jackson and Sharpton can help. Leave Barbershop alone.
If they want to protest movies, there are a lot of other movies that do a lot more tragedy to the black community. But I guess those film makers are just “keeping it real”
Keep hope alive and let’s keep moving forward, breaking down barriers, and setting precedents in society.
