Disgusting! But, I am not surprised!

Disgusting! Yet, I am not surprised.

NYC Principal Minerva Zanca of Pan American International High School is reported to have described two black high school teachers as nappy headed. big lipped gorillas, before firing them.

Principal Minerva Zanca

This is a sad story. As, you all know I am a NYC teacher. However, I teach preschool in a private school. I do not encounter the same dynamics that others may encounter in public schools. I am also fortunate enough to work for a Black Owned Business.

Family, for every Paula Deen there are 50,000 other just like her. Racism is not over. Racism is subdued. Racism is hidden behind political correctness, but it is still alive. After years of slavery, jim crow, protests, etc. there is a popular belief that we black people are inferior and lesser than. We are called animals. our hair and facial features are degraded.

I truly believe that we should not adopt a separatist attitude, but a togetherness attitude. However, before we do that we have to rid ourselves of the self hate we have for ourselves. We have to love our blackness. We have to love each other. We have to support black owned business,and own more within our communities. We have to go out and vote and actively participate in the running of our communities and government. We have to learn our history and teach our children, so they can learn the truth about who they are, thus allowing them to deny the lies of who they are from oppressing them. We will also let the shackles of self doubt and self hatred die as well.

Yes. we have all heard this before. We have all heard this constant talk of love, togetherness, economic power etc. However, how many of you have actually taken steps to help establish better conditions for yourself and our race in general?

How many of you have went out and voted, supported black owned businesses, let go of the slave mentality etc? Many of us say what we NEED to do in the community. Many of us think it? MANY of us write it, many of us talk about it. However, many of us do not act. Many of us do not live it.

Yes, many of our people are not enlightened. Yes, many of our people do not understand and are lost. However, for each one of us that is enlightened, that understands, we have the power to change and create so much.

Do not stay idle and watch our people stay in redundancy. Live and create change. Your efforts create a chain of influence that will eventually reach all of us and stimulate progress. ~Know Your Worth~ -M. Millie

Read the article here http://breakingbrown.com/2013/07/principal-allegedly-called-black-teachers-nappy-headed-big-lipped-and-gorillas-before-firing-them/

UPDATE!!!! There is a petition on change.org to get this racist principal fired. You can find it below. Please sign it and share it http://www.change.org/petitions/nyc-chancellor-dennis-walcott-help-us-terminate-principal-minerva-zanca-of-pan-american-international-high-school -M. Millie

PAULA DEEN! MY THOUGHTS!

When, there are trending stories, I like to take my time to respond. I like to first, fully understand the scope of the situation and details revolved around the controversy of a topic. Once, I understand the situation and/or controversy fully, I can make an educated opinion and response that is based on facts.

Now, I know that many people have been talking about the racist statements made by Paula Deen. I had to personally educate myself on who she was. I really did not know who she was before the controversy surrounding her surfaced. Upon, me learning who she was I understood why everyone was so upset.

Firstly, she was a beloved food network host who portrayed herself to be loving, wholesome and no where near racist. This is why this news is so hard to bear. She represented herself the total opposite of how she is being revealed to really be. Her true biased and racist self has come out and disappointed the fans that believed she was a unbiased, Oprah friend, loving person. SMH! You see games eventually end. Magic tricks are fake and shows eventually conclude. The facades people put up eventually end. They do not last forever. This is why her empire is crumbling because people realize who she really is.

Her actions further confirm to me that there are many people in power and celebrities who use facades, and smokes and mirrors to control their image and gain economic power. There have been many celebrities like Alec Baldwin, Michael Richards, etc who created an image of unbiased and equality, but eventually showed their racist attitudes. The truth always comes to light. People always show who they are eventually.

Next, the fact that people want to excuse Paula Deens actions because rappers use the N- word is ridiculous. Yes, rappers and Paula Deen used the N- word. Thats one comparison. Yes, Paula Deen and some rappers used the N- word to degrade others. That is the last comparison.

Most, rappers use the N- word as a term of endearment. Yes, it is derogatory and degrading, but most rappers use it as a positive. Next, when Paula Deen used the N- word she used it to racial degrade people of color. That is not what rappers do when they use the N- word. Yes, many rappers use the N- word as a term of endearment and ridicule, but never as a means of racial degrading people of color. This is why we CANNOT justify Paula Deens words because rappers use it. Rappers usage of the N- word along with Paula Deen’s usage are both wrong and are unacceptable. However, DO NOT, say Paula Deen can use the N- word because rappers do. That is a sad cop out to justify white supremacist racist attitudes.

I applaud the worker who has spoken out against the racial and sexual harassment they endured while employed by Deen. I am happy they are suing her and seeking damages from the lawsuit. Her comments should not be taken lightly. Racism has caused psychological, economic and mental distress on African American/black people for over 300 hundred years. We need to speak out against the continued racial prejudice we endure. We deserve respect and the equal treatment this country is supposed to be built on. I wish the former employee good luck on their trail.

Well. thats my take on the Paula Deen controversy. I welcome comments and feedback. What are your thoughts on the Paula Deen controversy? -M. Millie