Black Heroics are Newsworthy?! Nope, Black Negativity is!

It never ceases to amaze me how the crimes, violence, buffoonery and stereotypical acts committed by African Americans get broadcasted and disseminated rapidly. However, the great acts of bravery, triumph, heroics, and success shown by African Americans hardly gets into the news and is often unknown. Why? Because Media is controlled by those who only want to portray a negative image of us.

I go into detail on media control in my post here https://blackwomenwhoknowtheirworth.wordpress.com/2013/07/21/the-portrayal/

Antoinette Tuff

Antoinette Tuff is a bookkeeper at the  Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy in Decatur,Georgia. Her fast thinking and bravery prevented a school shooting from happening. Without her quick and courageous actions another Sandy Hook incident could have occurred, and many children’s lives could have been lost.

On Tuesday, Michael Brandon Hill, 20, slipped into the school behind someone who was buzzed in. He entered, Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy, an elementary school from pre- kindergarten to fifth grade armed with an AK- 47 and other weapons.

Michael Brandon Hill, school shooter.

Hill then went into the administration office and demanded to get near the children. Tuff refused to allow him near the kids. Hill then told Tuff that he was planning to die and wanted to get the news there. Tuff convinced him to stop his mission of death and give up his weapon by talking to him.

In an interview with Diane Sawyer Tuff recalls that “He had a look on him that he was willing to kill.” “He said that he didn’t have any reason to live and that he knew he was going to die today.” “I knew that if he got out that door he was gonna kill everybody.”

Tuff calmed Hill down by telling him about the problems in her life. She is heard on 911 tapes telling Hill “Don’t feel bad, baby.” “My husband just left me after 33 years…I’ve got a son that’s multiple disabled.”  “It’s all going to be well.”

She then relayed to the 911 operator she was talking to for over 20 minutes, that “He said he don’t care if he dies, he don’t have nothing to live for. He said he’s not mentally stable.”

Tuff talked to and calmed Hill down, while informing the 911 operator of his actions. Talking to Hill enabled police to safely evacuate  students and teachers from the building. Outside students and teachers boarded school buses that took them to a nearby Wal-Mart, where they could meet their families.

Children boarding the buses to Wal-Mart.

Tuff’s calming of Hill’s rage continued as she asked him to put his weapon and backpack on the ground. He complied after a short shoot out with the police, where there were no casualties.

This can be attributed to the quick and fearless thinking of Antoinette Tuff. Authorities later revealed that Hill was carrying 500 rounds of ammunition. He could have killed many innocent lives, if it was not for Hill and her bravery.

Hill with a gun.

This story has not been widely spread. Sure there are a few articles written about it. However, it will NEVER, get the mass dissemination throughout the country the way negative news about African Americans does.

There are a few reasons why this is so. Besides the negative portrayal of African Americans in media, there is also the people in the situation. You have a black woman who rescued black children from a white perpetrator. Lets examine this.

Black women are one of the most, if not the most discriminated against oppressed people. Our lives are plagued with a double dose of racism and sexism. Our weakness, and ability to be used is perpetuated in media, television, movies and our daily encounters. where we have to let people know…. “I AM NOT that F*C*ING stereotype. Yes, black women we have all been through it.

Black children are not cared about in America. We live in a country where we make up less than half of the population., but over 50% of our children go missing without follow up. Our children are killed without any reports, or police work done to find them. It is just believed and accepted that black children go missing and it is okay. SMDH! Now, you know I do not believe in statistics, but having a few friends who work in the police department and doing research of my own, I know that most black children missing are not found.

Jordan Davis(R) and Trayvon Martin(L). Both teens were unarmed, but killed anyway.

Our children are killed and it is deemed okay and acceptable in the legal system. The lives of black children mean nothing to America. Unless… Unless black children are being saved by some amazing good ole white person who has welcomed the world of intellect and prosperity into the lives of less fortunate urban children. America always loves a good charity story where whites are the ones giving back, taking a pay cut, adopting and traveling to 3rd world countries. You know the speal of white charity, and the “oh I help minorities I do not uphold white supremacy”, stuff. Its kind of similar to the “I have black friends, I am not racist,” statement. You see, a part of white supremacy is receiving gratifaction that the lives of people you deem inferior can only have elevation in their lives, if you are in it and help them. As well  the fact that minorities can only succeed so far, without their help.

Angelina Jolie and her adopted African daughter Zahara.

Then, there’s the fact that the shooter was a white man. This is an image that is often attributed to school shooters. However, his gender and race guarantees him the usual cop outs. He “had a troubled life.” “He suffers from mental disorders” “He has had a lot of emotional difficulty.” “He had a horrible childhood.” These scenarios are experienced by numerous black men and women, however we can never use these phrases as copouts. We are termed as violent, gangsters, whores, victimizers, etc.

Believe it family. The language and actions change depending on the gender and race of the characters involved. I say this all to express that our depiction is controlled by those who want us to look and be categorized as stereotypical, violent driven buffoons, who are in need of help and guidance by white people. That is how it always is. How many movies, ads, shows, celebrities push this agenda. Thats it. It is an agenda. Open your eyes and see it.

The movie “The Help,” where a nice white person who cares about black people helps them out and elevates their troubles. SMH!

I applaud Antoinette Tuff and her actions of bravery. She is a resounding message that we black people, specifically black women are not the depiction of negativity that surround us. We are courageous, powerful and capable. We can accomplish and do great things without charity. Sister Tuff, I am giving your time to shine with this article. I am implanting your name and image in the minds of my readers and others, for we should all know about amazing women like you who everyday change the lives of others, and do great things.

You know thats right, black women.

Family, we are all like Antoinette Tuff. We do not have to fulfill the negative portrayal that is spread of us. We fulfill our destines, and demonstrate who we are. Do not let the perpetuation be you, be the one who disproves the lies at every turn. -M. Millie

Antionette Tuff

From Homsexuality to Black Women on Welfare: Lee Daniels degradation of black women!

I was never going to see the Butler movie by Lee Daniels. I get tired of seeing us depicted in movies as stereotypical characters who are wholesome and good, but help white people discover themselves and become better, while we serve them in servitude. However, I am very appalled to the recent words of the film’s director Lee Daniels.

In an interview with Larry King, Daniels was expressing his experience growing up as an African-American gay man. The conversation went South. View his interview here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rrr7izsQa-Q

He then started describing how he walked into a gay mens’ health crisis center in New York City. He states “I expected to see a room full of gay men, but there are nothing but women that are there – black women with kids, I thought I had walked into the welfare office, but they service black women with AIDS, why?”

“Because black men can’t come out. Why? Because you simply can’t do it. Your family says it, your church says it, your teachers say it, your parents say it, your friends say it, your work says it. And so you’re living on this DL thing and you’re infecting black women.”

Although I understand Daniels’ sentiment with black men infecting black women with HIV/AIDS, why compare black women in a clinic, treating themselves and their children to black women being in a welfare office. There is no comparison.

One thing that pisses me off with welfare is that it is believed that we African-Americans, especially black women, are on welfare. Yes, I know statistics will tell you one thing. But, what are statistics? Statistics are numbers generated by people in power to gear the greater population into believing stereotypes, ideas, and garner certain beliefs about different groups of people, medicine, trends etc. That is the real definition of statistics. I mean who are participating in these surveys and tests? Have you ever been called up? Think about it.

Also, the people who use up welfare the most are Latinos, Jews and Europeans. Yes, I said it. It is so much easier for these groups of people to get welfare than it is for us. Jews get their welfare and other aids in the synagogue. Who else has this privilege. Not African Americans! Latinos and Europeans come here aided by their people in offices, and higher positions who pull down the curtains of difficulty and make it easier for them to get welfare. I do not say this to be bitter. These groups of people are organized and unify to help each other gain resources and opportunities. That is a beautiful thing. That is something that is definitely lacking in the black community. However, I say this because the hype should not be believed that we African Americans, specifically black women possess more welfare than anyone else. I know black women who have had five kids, and no job, but due to the difficulty of obtaining welfare have not been able to gain it. Thankfully she is working now. Family, statistics are not all true. They are made up to control your thinking and beliefs. V for Vendetta anyone. That was a great movie. If you have not seen it, see it. It discusses how a lot of corruption and beliefs are created.

Back to it…

I am tired of black men stomping on black. Yes, Daniels made a point about how homosexuality is different in African-American culture. He also sheds light on the struggle, homosexual black men experience. However, why try to highlight your struggle as a minority-oppressed person by bringing down another group of minority oppressed people, black women? It makes no sense and diffuses the positivity he was trying to highlight in his interview. We black women have NOTHING! Let me repeat NOTHING to do with a black mans struggle growing up gay.

We black women are not a stomping ground. We should not be used so easily as a punching bag to make a point, no matter how positive the point may be. I will not, and do not support anyone black or otherwise that seeks to benefit from the degradation of black women. None of us should. Lee Daniels is another African-American man, who unfortunately instead of trying to uplift ALL of his people, steps on those who have supported on him. We black women need to demand more, and hit them where it hurts. Deny them from flourishing with our economic power. Support those who support you and this man does not support us. –M. Millie

WEAVES= NO CHURCH! THIS IS IN THE BIBLE, WHERE?!

I never knew that pastors now dictated how we look when we come to church and how we wear our hair. SMDH! I am disgusted by Texas Minister A.J. Aamir at the Resurrecting Faith Church has told his congregation of black women that they CANNOT wear weaves. What happened to come as you are?

Yes, I am a black woman who sports natural hair. However, I have worn wigs and weaves in the past. I have also alternated during my natural hair journey with wearing added pieces every now and then. I definitely rock braids and twists as protective styles as well. I guess I would not be allowed in his church.

Me, M. Millie and my fav protective style Senegalese Twists.

What does hair have to do with praising God? Nothing. Not wearing weaves are not in the Bible. SMH!

While, I have met many black woman and know some personally who wear weaves because they do not believe in the beauty of their natural hair texture, that is NOT true for all black women who wear weaves.

As someone said earlier why must our hair be used as a battlefield to oppress us and divide us. Other groups of women wear weaves, but are not persecuted the way black women are. We like any other group of women should be able to wear our hair anyway we want and switch it up whenever we see fit. We too are versatile.

Yes, weaves are not for me. That is my personal preference. I like my natural hair. However, weaves are for some black women and that is their personal preference. Weaves or the lack thereof does not make or define a black woman. Just like twists or my natural hair do not define me. We are not our hair.

Me, M. Millie with my natural hair.

There are many sistahs with natural hair and a processed mind, as well as many sistahs with processed hair and a natural mind.

Yes, our hair is our style and is often times an extension of who we are. However, our hair does not make up our personality and should not warrant us to be mistreated because of our preference.

This is the way it should be. Yet, it is not realistic. We will be judged by our hair, the same way we are judged by our clothes and the way we speak. We automatically judge people upon our initial encounter with them. It is natural it is an instinct.

Despite that we do not need to criticize and demonize each other. That is the difference. People need to stop demonizing black women for their hair. We already get it in the media, in magazines, etc. However, it hurts so much when it comes from our own people. We often times set up the parameters for our oppression and bondage. We contribute to many of the strategies that have been used to devastate us by performing these same practices. We black women have to proactively come together and empower each other more, and stop battling over hair, complexion and the other things placed before us to oppress us.

It is sad. As a black man Pastor A.J. Aamir should strive his best to elevate his church, with positivity. Not, criticize their hair choice and then attack their character. Our ascending is often hindered by our inability to educate, enlighten and help each other. He should motivate the black women in his church, not add to the attacks on their self-esteem they get daily from everywhere else. Many of us are too busy worrying about judging, attacking and hurting each other. This is a practice that needs to stop.

Read more about this pastor here http://www.americapreachers.com/speak-out/pastor-says-no-to-women-wearing-weaves-in-church/