Recently I read a great article by Dr. Boyce Watkins titled "Should the NAACP reward Artists Who Promote Sexism and the N-word" . Just like Dr. Boyce I'm sure most Black people agree they shouldn't; however sometimes what we wish for can be on the idealistic side.
When I think about the NAACP I feel that the direction they have seem to go in through the years is appropriate. It's appropriate because it reflects metaphysics and the ENERGY of this race.
The NAACP have and always will reflect the ENERGY of Black people. Look at the state of the Black community. Over the years Black people have seemed to care less and less about activism and what goes on in the Black community. The negative ENERGIES within the community have become so overwhelming that all Black people can do is talk about our problems in a repetitive, cliche way and escape until an issue is right in front of us. We refuse to truly get excited and rallied up for change within the community. This is particularly because many of the problems lie within and people tend to hesitate and not want to self-reflect. In fact we had a better solution. We figured we didn't have to monitor our culture and have literally empowered the ENERGIES that enslave us. We have allowed jail culture to have the strongest ENERGY and lead this race.
The NAACP over the years has become like a corporation. The NAACP depends on major companies to sponsor their events and they deal with celebrities for the same reason. There is no power in the Black community. We have no economical power or strength. Together with the ENERGY of Black people not caring enough the NAACP has too lowered their standards. they can't depend on a race that has many people like me who wants the NAACP to be about something., and fight for something. I can resist supporting many of the things Black people can't. I was born after my time.
Just like BET which we have been talking about for years the NAACP has seemingly developed an attitude of "if you don't care I don't care". Leave it to this race to think we can behave and have any ENERGY and someone or something is suppose to make it all better. God and this Universe would never allow that to be true.
The NAACP will always reflect the ENERGY of this race. Just like Black people the NAACP will seem to be lazier and lazier and less focused over the years. It's metaphysics.
If you like the "Desperate Housewives of Atlanta" and give the show ridiculous support, well, so does the NAACP. Yes, they will present a show like Desperate Housewives of Atlanta with an IMAGE AWARD. That's where the money's at you made that CLEAR. But when the NAACP follows the money trail also Black people want to complain.
We always expect more from others then we are willing to do for ourselves, that's why it takes so much ENERGY to deal with this race. The mentalities we have don't work, not because of society or any individual or group, but because God would not allow things to work in that way. If he did you would fail to spiritually grow and advance consciously.
Can you blame the NAACP? I want to be clear that I don't respect what they are doing but can you blame them?
The NAACP was created with a mission to fight injustices, stereotypes and discrimination however the ENERGY of this culture fosters all of these problems. The ENERGY of this culture overshadows the ENERGY of progression in this race because our mainstream culture is CRAP.
Until Black people change their ENERGY the NAACP will always get away with having lower standards and will continue to honor who you seem to support. It's metaphysics, people treat you based on what you stand for and what you allow. Yes, they are Black but once again that is a metaphysical statement. Think of that statement the next time you walk into a Black business in a challenging area and it's dusty, dingy and dirty. They would not have a store like that in a better neighborhood, it wouldn't be tolerated. Black people have no self respect or pride so we simply deal with any condition not realizing or having the ENERGY to change it.
I live with Caucasians now and let me promise you they wouldn't tolerate it. I'm sure mystery shoppers where created because of their willingness to complain in specifics. Again Black people are use to sitting and dealing with shit, so we'll take something less than standard. People have caught wind of this and we are treated accordingly.
I urge you to read Dr. Boyce Watkins article where he describes how things should be ideally. Note as you read the article how each ENERGY the NAACP has lowered it's standard to accept is a strong ENERGY we accept in our race and culture.
We are so idealistic the NAACP wants to stay relevant and be in the news too. To be acknowledged in a race with such low standards one has to play into that. Just like we will be bombarded with more Desperate Housewives of Atlanta and Basketball Wives type of shows in the years to come.
After-all we made it clear we don't want to hold out for quality entertaining media to set a standard. No, instead we have shown wee will accept anything, particularly if it reflects the drama of our lives.
2011 NAACP Image Awards Nominees & * Winners
**Winners in Bold**
TELEVISIONComedy Series
* "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" (TBS)
"30 Rock" (NBC)
"Are We There Yet?" (TBS)
"Glee" (FOX)
"Modern Family" (ABC)
Actor in a Comedy Series
* David Mann - "Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns" (TBS)
Dulé Hill - "Psych" (USA)
LaVan Davis - "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" (TBS)
Phil Morris - "Love That Girl!" (TV One)
Terry Crews - "Are We There Yet?" (TBS)
Actress in a Comedy Series
* Vanessa Williams - "Desperate Housewives" (ABC)
Cassi Davis - "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" (TBS)
Essence Atkins - "Are We There Yet?" (TBS)
Salli Richardson-Whitfield - "Eureka" (Syfy)
Tatyana Ali - "Love That Girl!" (TV One)
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
* Ice Cube - "Are We There Yet?" (TBS)
Craig Robinson - "The Office" (NBC)
Lamman Rucker - "Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns" (TBS)
Lance Gross - "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" (TBS)
Tracy Morgan - "30 Rock" (NBC)
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
* Sofia Vergara - "Modern Family" (ABC)
Amber Riley - "Glee" (FOX)
Anna Deavere Smith - "Nurse Jackie" (Showtime)
Keshia Knight Pulliam - "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" (TBS)
Viola Davis - "United States of Tara" (Showtime)
Drama Series
* "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
"Detroit 1-8-7" (ABC)
"HawthoRNe" (TNT)
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC)
"Treme" (HBO)
Actor in a Drama Series
* LL Cool J - "NCIS: Los Angeles " (CBS)
Anthony Anderson - "Law & Order" (NBC)
Blair Underwood - "The Event" (NBC)
Hill Harper - "CSI: NY" (CBS)
Laurence Fishburne - "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS)
Actress in a Drama Series
* Regina King - "Southland" (TNT)
Chandra Wilson - "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw - "Undercovers" (NBC)
Jada Pinkett Smith - "HawthoRNe" (TNT)
Wendy Davis - "Army Wives" (Lifetime)
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
* Terrence Howard - "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (NBC)
Andre Braugher - "Men of a Certain Age" (TNT)
Giancarlo Esposito - "Breaking Bad" (AMC)
James Pickens, Jr. - "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
Nelsan Ellis - "True Blood" (HBO)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
* S. Epatha Merkerson - "Law & Order" (NBC)
Alfre Woodard - "Memphis Beat" (TNT)
Sandra Oh - "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
Sara Ramirez - "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
Vanessa Bell Calloway - "HawthoRNe" (TNT)
Television Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special
* "Sins of the Mother" (Lifetime Movie Network)
"America: The Story of Us (Part 4)" (History)
"Filling the Gap" (PBS)
"Luther" (BBC America)
"The Wronged Man" (Lifetime Movie Network)
Actor in a Television Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special
* Idris Elba - "Luther" (BBC America)
Benito Martinez - "Lies in Plain Sight" (Lifetime Movie Network)
Jon Seda - "The Pacific" (HBO)
Mahershalalhashbaz Ali - "The Wronged Man" (Lifetime Movie Network)
Michael Jai White - "One Angry Juror" (Lifetime Movie Network)
Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
* Jill Scott - "Sins of the Mother" (Lifetime Movie Network)
Lucy Liu - "Marry Me" (Lifetime Movie Network)
Rosie Perez - "Lies in Plain Sight" (Lifetime Movie Network)
Tamera Mowry - "Double Wedding" (Lifetime Movie Network)
Tia Mowry - "Double Wedding" (Lifetime Movie Network)
Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
* Darnell Williams - "All My Children" (ABC)
Aaron D. Spears - "The Bold and the Beautiful" (CBS)
Cornelius Smith, Jr. - "All My Children" (ABC)
Rodney Saulsberry - "The Bold and the Beautiful" (CBS)
Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
* Tatyana Ali - "The Young and the Restless" (CBS)
Debbi Morgan - "All My Children" (ABC)
Julia Pace Mitchell - "The Young and the Restless" (CBS)
Tonya Lee Williams - "The Young and the Restless" (CBS)
Yvette Freeman - "The Bold and the Beautiful" (CBS)
News/Information (Series or Special)
* "Unsung" (TV One)
"A Conversation with President Obama" (BET, CMT, MTV)
"Anderson Cooper 360" (CNN)
"The Judge Mathis Show" (Syndicated)
"Washington Watch with Roland Martin" (TV One)
Talk (Series)
* "The View" (ABC)
"Conversations with Ed Gordon" (BET Networks)
"Larry King Live" (CNN)
"The Mo'Nique Show" (BET Networks)
"TV One on One with Cathy Hughes" (TV One)
Reality Series
* "Sunday Best" (BET Networks)
"American Idol" (FOX)
"America's Next Top Model" (The CW)
"Dancing with the Stars" (ABC)
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (ABC)
Variety (Series or Special)
* "UNCF An Evening of Stars Tribute to Lionel Richie" (Syndicated)
"2010 BET Honors" (BET Networks)
"Beyoncé: I AM...WORLD TOUR" (ABC)
"Black Girls Rock!" (BET Networks)
"TV One Night Only: Live from the Essence Music Festival" (TV One)
Children's Program
* "True Jackson, VP" (Nickelodeon)
"Brave New Voices 2010" (HBO)
"Dora the Explorer" (Nickelodeon)
"The Backyardigans" (Nickelodeon)
"Wizards of Waverly Place" (Disney Channel)
Performance in a Youth/ Children's Program (Series or Special)
* Keke Palmer - "True Jackson, VP" (Nickelodeon)
Lance Robertson - "Yo Gabba Gabba: Baby" (Nickelodeon)
Nick Cannon - "TeenNick Halo Awards 2010" (TeenNick)
Selena Gomez - "Wizards of Waverly Place" (Disney Channel)
Victoria Justice - "Victorious" (Nickelodeon)
RECORDING
New Artist
* Willow (Roc Nation/Columbia Records)
B.o.B (Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic)
Bruno Mars (Elektra Records)
Jason Derulo (Warner Bros. Records)
Nicki Minaj (Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown)
Male Artist
* Usher (Laface/Jive Records)
Cee Lo Green (Elektra Records)
Jay-Z (Roc Nation/Def Jam)
Kanye West (Island Def Jam Music Group)
Ne-Yo (Island Def Jam Music Group)
Female Artist Chrisette Michele (Island Def Jam Music Group)
* Mary J. Blige (Geffen Records/Matriarch)
Corinne Bailey Rae (Capitol Records)
Rihanna (Island Def Jam Music Group)
Sade (Epic Records)
Duo, Group or Collaboration
* John Legend and The Roots (Columbia Records)
Diddy-Dirty Money (Bad Boy/Interscope) Eminem & Rihanna (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope) Herbie Hancock (feat. India.Arie, Chaka Khan and others) (Hancock Music)
The Black Eyed Peas (Interscope)
Jazz Album
* "From Billie Holiday to Edith Piaf - Live in Marciac" -The Wynton Marsalis Quintet & Richard Galliano (The Orchard)
"Dee Dee Bridgewater Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee" - Dee Dee Bridgewater (EmArcy, Decca Label Group, DDB Records)
"Geri Allen & Timeline Live" - Geri Allen & Timeline Live (Motema Music)
"The Imagine Project" - Herbie Hancock (Hancock Music)
"VOCAbuLarieS" - Bobby McFerrin (Universal Music Group/Decca/Emarcy)
Gospel Album -(Traditional or Contemporary)
* "You Are Not Alone" - Mavis Staples (ANTI Records)
"Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter III" - Kirk Whalum (Rendezvous Music/Mack Avenue Records)
"Here I Am" - Marvin Sapp (Verity Gospel Music Group)
"Just Love Deluxe" - Brian Courtney Wilson (Music World Gospel)
"Master Plan" -Tamela Mann (TillyMann)
World Music Album
* "VOCAbuLarieS" - Bobby McFerrin (Universal Music Group/Decca/Emarcy)
"Hymns for the Rebel Soul" - Rocky Dawuni (Aquarian Records)
"Oyo" - Angelique Kidjo (Razor & Tie)
"The Imagine Project" - Herbie Hancock (Hancock Music)
"The Sound of Sunshine" - Michael Franti (EMI Music)
Music Video
* "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" - Alicia Keys (J Records)
"Fistful of Tears" - Maxwell (Columbia Records)
"Soldier of Love" - Sade (Epic Records)
"Whip My Hair" – Willow Smith (Roc Nation/Columbia Records)
"Why Don't You Love Me" - Beyoncé Knowles (Columbia Records)
Song
* "Bittersweet" - Fantasia (J Records)
"Fistful of Tears" - Maxwell (Columbia Records)
"Forget You" - Cee-Lo Green (Elektra Records)
"Soldier of Love" - Sade (Epic Records)
"Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" - Alicia Keys (J Records)
Album
* "Wake Up!" - John Legend and The Roots (Columbia Records)
"My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" - Kanye West (Island Def Jam Music Group)
"Now and Then" - Smokey Robinson (Saguaro Road/Cracker Barrel/Robso Records) "Raymond vs. Raymond" - Usher (Laface/Jive Records)
"Soldier of Love" - Sade (Epic Records)
MOTION PICTURE
* "For Colored Girls" (Lionsgate/34th Street Films)
"Just Wright" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
"The Book of Eli" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
"The Kids Are All Right" (Focus Features)
"Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?" (Lionsgate)
Actor in a Motion Picture
* Denzel Washington - "The Book of Eli" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Anthony Mackie - "Night Catches Us" (Magnolia Pictures)
Common - "Just Wright" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Jaden Smith - "The Karate Kid" (Columbia Pictures)
Morgan Freeman - "Red" (Summit Entertainment)
Actress in a Motion Picture
* Halle Berry - "Frankie & Alice" (Freestyle Releasing)
Janet Jackson - "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?" (Lionsgate)
Kerry Washington - "Night Catches Us" (Magnolia Pictures)
Queen Latifah - "Just Wright" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Zo' Saldana - "The Losers" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
* Samuel L. Jackson - "Mother and Child" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Don Cheadle - "Brooklyn's Finest" (Overture Films)
Idris Elba - "Takers" (Screen Gems)
Justin Timberlake - "The Social Network" (Columbia Pictures)
Michael Ealy - "For Colored Girls" (Lionsgate/34th Street Films)
Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
* Kimberly Elise - "For Colored Girls" (Lionsgate/34th Street Films)
Anika Noni Rose - "For Colored Girls" (Lionsgate/34th Street Films)
Phylicia Rashad - "For Colored Girls" (Lionsgate/34th Street Films)
Jill Scott - "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?" (Lionsgate)
Whoopi Goldberg - "For Colored Girls" (Lionsgate/34th Street Films)
Foreign Motion Picture
* "Biutiful" (Roadside Attractions)
"A Barefoot Dream" (Showbox/Mediaplex)
"Four Lions" (Drafthouse Films)
"Mother" (Magnolia Pictures)
"Outside the Law" (Tessalit Productions)
