Some fool in Oregon killed a guy, then pleaded guilty in exchange for...fried chicken. I was really hoping dude wasn't black. No dice. His name is Tremayne. At least he ordered some calzones instead of biscuits. Wouldn't want to, you know, confirm any stereotypes.
How much do you want to bet that the fried chicken was in the headline first before some editor tepped in and said "oh no way in hell." It would have read like a racist onion article
It's different for white people reading the news. We don't have to worry that when someone white does something stupid it will reflect badly on "our people". This reminds me of how weird it was when Obama was on Meet the Press a principle line of Tim Russert's questions was to make Obama respond to statements made by most every black guy topical at the time (from the actor Sidney Poitier, to Louis Farrakhan).
Your voice and perspective is very much appreciated and needed here in the "mainstream" blogosphere Mr. Coates. I hope this column stays here for a long time!
I largely agree with Beth about us as whites not usually being embarrassed over some misbehavior by another white guy. However a friend of mine was talking to one of his black co-workers back in the day about Vanilla Ice, and he tried to verbalize his distaste for Ice. The lady stopped him and said "I think what you are trying to say is that he is an embarrassment to the community"
As for the fried chicken, I have long thought of what last meal I would want if I were on death row, and a meal of KFC would certainly be at the top of my list, along with some deep dish pizza.
For the record, KFC sucks, you gotta have Lee's, or Church's. I'm not sure if Lee's is all over the country, but here in the midwest, its the best there is.
First off; congratulations on your move to the Atlantic. I found your blog a few months ago after reading your excellent piece on Bill Cosby and it's quickly become one of my favorites. At least once a week when reading your posts, I'll find myself saying: "Hmmmm...interesting point. I never really thought about it that way before." But enough sucking up!
I'm really, really late to the party on this, but would you (or one of the readers) kindly let me know the back story to the Billy Dee Williams references?
"I largely agree with Beth about us as whites not usually being embarrassed over some misbehavior by another white guy. However a friend of mine was talking to one of his black co-workers back in the day about Vanilla Ice, and he tried to verbalize his distaste for Ice. The lady stopped him and said "I think what you are trying to say is that he is an embarrassment to the community""
ROFL.
I'd like to see a Race Representative swap. We offer up the embarrassments and see if anyone is willing to swap. Like lunch sandwiches.
From the Filipino side, I'm offering Michele Malkin. Please, please, someone take her. She's bringing the whole diaspora down. But I'm keeping Prince (he's got Filipino somewhere, I swear it.)
From the white side, I'm offering ... hmm. So. Many. Possibilities. I guess Bill O'Riled is the top of the list in a very tough contest. Anyone want him? He's good for providing Youtube remix material.
Uh yeah, that much I was able to put together myself. I can also dress myself in the morning too :-P
Perhaps I should be clearer: Lots of famous people say stupid shit all the time and it's largely ignored, so I figured Billy Dee must have said it in a way, or at an event, which REALLY stood out and serves as a continuing source of unintentional comedy.
Ingvy, a few weeks, it became known that among the white community that Jessie Jackson did not in fact, speak for all black people. As such, there was much confusion about who was in fact the actual Spokesman for all views African American.
Ta-Nehisi was helpful enough to to put it to a vote, and Billy Dee won.
Ingvy, a few weeks, it became known that among the white community that Jessie Jackson did not in fact, speak for all black people. As such, there was much confusion about who was in fact the actual Spokesman for all views African American.
Ta-Nehisi was helpful enough to to put it to a vote, and Billy Dee won.
Well, the first double post was just your everyday standard Atlantic technical glitch, but it just made it a bit more embarrassing since my first post was so poorly written.
Oh well. I guess there's a reason that I work with data, and not with words.
I don't think you can substitute "white" for "black" and have the same "why MUST you act like all the stereotypes?" issue. You need to put in the group.
For example, my neighbor, who lives up to every stereotype of redneck (drunk a lot, has a yard full of junk cars, lives in a falling-down trailer); why does he have to confirm the stereotypes about rednecks that I spend my time trying not to live up to?
If Tremayne:
a) knew he would eventually be found guilty no matter what;
b) knew that he could still insist on a not-guilty plea and burden the prosecutor's office with a costly murder trial;
c) personally had no interest in participating in such a murder trial,
then why not trade in his power to annoy the prosecutor's office to get something he actually wants, specifically some decent food? Seems to me like he got a better deal than the typical person who doesn't get past (a) and pleads guilty for free.
My opinion is who cares about the stereotype "Black People love fried chicken and watermelon". It seems to me a sign of good taste. Everyone loves fried chicken and watermelon. The last time I checked KFC is wildly profitable and watermelon is just plain deliscious. It seems to me that if you cant eat what you like because racists are going to make fun of you, then the racists have won.
Here's a piece no one cared about. Meh, whatever, probably the most enjoyable article I did during my stint at TIME. Premiered a month before I got laid-off. The nail in the coffin? Ya think?
Here's me going after Al. I didn't so much have a problem with him, as I had a problem with media acting like this dude was the go-to guy for everything black.
This was my first real story at time. I was writing for the Business section, a real change of direction for me. At any rate, it's about Wal-Mart's attempts to colonize the inner-city. As much as I enjoyed this piece, I mostly enjoyed going out to Chicago, which is a beautiful, beautiful city.
This a piece I did about the cops just outside our nation capitol, in Prince George's County, a few years back. I wanted to offer a counter to the dumb, conventional wisdom that if you paint your police force black, you could eradicate police brutality. In fact, Prince George's--one of the richest, blackest counties in the country--also had one of the most brutal police force's in the country.
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
How much do you want to bet that the fried chicken was in the headline first before some editor tepped in and said "oh no way in hell." It would have read like a racist onion article
Why?
It's different for white people reading the news. We don't have to worry that when someone white does something stupid it will reflect badly on "our people". This reminds me of how weird it was when Obama was on Meet the Press a principle line of Tim Russert's questions was to make Obama respond to statements made by most every black guy topical at the time (from the actor Sidney Poitier, to Louis Farrakhan).
Your voice and perspective is very much appreciated and needed here in the "mainstream" blogosphere Mr. Coates. I hope this column stays here for a long time!
If it's any consolation, I know plenty of fellow Italians who would plead guilty in exchange for a calzone.
I largely agree with Beth about us as whites not usually being embarrassed over some misbehavior by another white guy. However a friend of mine was talking to one of his black co-workers back in the day about Vanilla Ice, and he tried to verbalize his distaste for Ice. The lady stopped him and said "I think what you are trying to say is that he is an embarrassment to the community"
As for the fried chicken, I have long thought of what last meal I would want if I were on death row, and a meal of KFC would certainly be at the top of my list, along with some deep dish pizza.
Unfair, Doug.
To be honest, I kinda wish I had some fried chicken after reading that ...
For the record, KFC sucks, you gotta have Lee's, or Church's. I'm not sure if Lee's is all over the country, but here in the midwest, its the best there is.
First off; congratulations on your move to the Atlantic. I found your blog a few months ago after reading your excellent piece on Bill Cosby and it's quickly become one of my favorites. At least once a week when reading your posts, I'll find myself saying: "Hmmmm...interesting point. I never really thought about it that way before." But enough sucking up!
I'm really, really late to the party on this, but would you (or one of the readers) kindly let me know the back story to the Billy Dee Williams references?
Many thanks!
"I largely agree with Beth about us as whites not usually being embarrassed over some misbehavior by another white guy. However a friend of mine was talking to one of his black co-workers back in the day about Vanilla Ice, and he tried to verbalize his distaste for Ice. The lady stopped him and said "I think what you are trying to say is that he is an embarrassment to the community""
ROFL.
I'd like to see a Race Representative swap. We offer up the embarrassments and see if anyone is willing to swap. Like lunch sandwiches.
From the Filipino side, I'm offering Michele Malkin. Please, please, someone take her. She's bringing the whole diaspora down. But I'm keeping Prince (he's got Filipino somewhere, I swear it.)
From the white side, I'm offering ... hmm. So. Many. Possibilities. I guess Bill O'Riled is the top of the list in a very tough contest. Anyone want him? He's good for providing Youtube remix material.
I'm keeping Steven Colbert though. Hands off.
I'm the spokesman for the black community. Duh.
Billy Dee:
Uh yeah, that much I was able to put together myself. I can also dress myself in the morning too :-P
Perhaps I should be clearer: Lots of famous people say stupid shit all the time and it's largely ignored, so I figured Billy Dee must have said it in a way, or at an event, which REALLY stood out and serves as a continuing source of unintentional comedy.
Church's chicken will make you sterile so be careful ;)
And Lee's is good, but Popeye's chicken heats up better in the microwave as a left over, late night dining delight.
Chauncey DeVega
Ingvy, a few weeks, it became known that among the white community that Jessie Jackson did not in fact, speak for all black people. As such, there was much confusion about who was in fact the actual Spokesman for all views African American.
Ta-Nehisi was helpful enough to to put it to a vote, and Billy Dee won.
Ingvy, a few weeks, it became known that among the white community that Jessie Jackson did not in fact, speak for all black people. As such, there was much confusion about who was in fact the actual Spokesman for all views African American.
Ta-Nehisi was helpful enough to to put it to a vote, and Billy Dee won.
Wow, double posting a poorly written reply = doublefail. That should have read:
"Ingvy, a few weeks ago, it became known among the white community..."
Wow, double posting a poorly written reply = doublefail. That should have read:
"Ingvy, a few weeks ago, it became known among the white community..."
Haha...I often write another post to correct errors in a previous one, only to discover the new post has even more.
Seriously, thanks for the info!
Well, the first double post was just your everyday standard Atlantic technical glitch, but it just made it a bit more embarrassing since my first post was so poorly written.
Oh well. I guess there's a reason that I work with data, and not with words.
I don't think you can substitute "white" for "black" and have the same "why MUST you act like all the stereotypes?" issue. You need to put in the group.
For example, my neighbor, who lives up to every stereotype of redneck (drunk a lot, has a yard full of junk cars, lives in a falling-down trailer); why does he have to confirm the stereotypes about rednecks that I spend my time trying not to live up to?
Wow, double posting a poorly written reply = doublefail. That should have read:
"Ingvy, a few weeks ago, it became known among the white community..."
Haha...I often write another post to correct errors in a previous one, only to discover the new post has even more.
Seriously, thanks for the info!
Putting my economist hat on...
If Tremayne:
a) knew he would eventually be found guilty no matter what;
b) knew that he could still insist on a not-guilty plea and burden the prosecutor's office with a costly murder trial;
c) personally had no interest in participating in such a murder trial,
then why not trade in his power to annoy the prosecutor's office to get something he actually wants, specifically some decent food? Seems to me like he got a better deal than the typical person who doesn't get past (a) and pleads guilty for free.
My opinion is who cares about the stereotype "Black People love fried chicken and watermelon". It seems to me a sign of good taste. Everyone loves fried chicken and watermelon. The last time I checked KFC is wildly profitable and watermelon is just plain deliscious. It seems to me that if you cant eat what you like because racists are going to make fun of you, then the racists have won.