Inauguration

January 20, 2009

When I enter the center, they say, "Yo, yo there he go..."

That was me yesterday. This has really been an awesome week. But man, the highlight for me was yesterday when I was on the Newshour with Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Rael Nelson James and Joseph Lowery. Most of you guys know how much I appreciate Lowery's courage and willingness to talk straight, even when it isn't comfortable. He was simply awesome today. Frankly, I couldn't really focus sitting next to him. In the words of the God, I was scared I'd press up, and mess up, the scene he'd set. And isn't that the way with all of us coming in the wake of that generation? Who amongst us--Obama excluded--really wants to come after Martin? After Malcolm? After Baldwin?

Afterward Lowery jokingly said to me and Rael, "I thought we were going to debate?" Whatever. Maybe when I get another 70 years of wisdom on me. Until then Rev, you got it.

Obama as the end of hip-hop culture

The Corner, following Juan Williams's lead, takes up the case with all the subtlety and nuance you'd expect. I've dealt with this silly, silly argument before. The only thing new I have to add is this: It seems foolish to listen and read pundits in a way that suggests they're talking about actual human beings. I know they claim they are, but they're lying--to themselves, mostly. In reality, the pundit is arguing about two-dimensional caricatures that exist in his head.

Only a two-dimensional caricature listens to Tupac, and then decides to be a bad father. Only a two-dimensional caricature sees the election of Obama and then says, "Hmmm, guess this means I can't listen to Jeezy anymore." Only two-dimensional caricatures say, "Hmm, got a black president, better pull my pants up."

In the real world, where real people live, and breath real air, a multitude of forces--cultural, social, economic, etc.--weigh on people. Barack Obama will certainly change something about black culture. But anyone who's spent any time around actual people should know better then to act like they know what that is, or how it will play out. These guys are Skip Bayless, telling you who's going to the Super Bowl next year.

And then the road not taken...

Reaching back

There's a lot of talk about "I Have A Dream" today. But for some reason, I am called back to the following...

UPDATE: Found a better version.

If ever we needed an open thread...

It's today. Consider this your open inaugural thread. I'll be quasi-live-blogging.

12:17 I think I've heard too many Obama speeches. I'm unmoved. It's not his fault.He sounds awesome as ever. But I've seen this too many times, I think.

12:05 Oh man. Let's go.

11:35 Dick Cheney rolls through. Que the Darth Vader theme music.

11:31 So what do we think of the dress?

11:16 Clinton looked pissed? Were they just beefing? And whats up with H.W. and Barbara's purple scarves?

11:00 Watching ABC. I don't know how these guys keep talking.

10:57 Kenyatta has announced that she will buy--and fly--an American flag today.

10:54 And now the Obama car. Man look a that motorcade. Pennsy Ave. never looked so good.

10:47 Cheney in a wheel-chair. Not as gratifying as I thought it would be.

As soon as I fix the flux capacitor

Walking through town this week, I kept wondering what the town would have been like had McCain won. Remember when the Justice League went to like that parallel universe where they were actually super-villains? Or when Spock had a beard? Well, through the wonders of modern technology, we've been able to peer into the shadow universe. Look into the screen. Behold what might have been...

January 19, 2009

From the annals of Ultra-Racial America

When I was kid, I always thought it was weird how much white racism, basically, revolved around keeping white women from having sex with black men. I'd be reading some book on black history, where people would be devoting, say, the right of black people to vote. And, inevitably, some white segregationists would say something like "If we let them vote, they'll be marrying your daughters!!! And they'll take over the country!!!" And I think, "Whaaa??" Talk about your non-sequitur.

But then I was talking about this with Kenyatta this morning, and it all suddenly made sense. She nodded to Barack Obama and laughingly noted, "They were right."

Sam Cooke does it better than you

I made it down to the concert, yesterday, on the mall. Was pretty awesome--I thought Garth Brooks was actually the highlight. White music, indeed! Anyway, worst moment was Jon Bon Jovi's take on Change Is Gonna Come. No one should ever cover that song again. Even, Anthony Hamilton, who I linked to a few weeks back. It's no slight to Bon Jovi to say this. He isn't qualified--nor is anyone else on the planet. Moreover, whenever people do the cover, they take the drums and horns that come in at that "I go to the movies part..." The song isn't the same without that. To paraphrase Teddy Roosevelt, let it be. You can only mar it.

Barack Obama - Change Is Gonna Come
by Brandan313

From the annals of post-racialism

Last night at The Root ball, me and Kenyatta are cutting the rug, during the old school set. Biz Markie is on the wheels. And somewhere between the "All Night Long" and "Got To Give It Up" I peep Christopher Hitchens, mid-groove, with some dime-piece on his hip. Philosopher of all things, William Jelani Cobb, who was dancing with his date a few paces away, offered the observation of the week, and the week had just begun...