AMERICA'S MOST TALENTED SCHOOL CASTING CALL

Standing For Something And Not Falling For Anything Part I Spike Lee vs Tyler Perry

This is a conversation long over due and I am so happy to now be giving my piece. Today Oct. 26th, 2009 Michael Baisden had on his show the topic of conversation on the dialog of the comment Spike Lee made about Tyler Perry and his taking black people back to the age of buffoonery.

Here was the exact excerpt compliments http://blogs.bet.com/entertainment/whattheflick/spike-lee-blasts-tyler-perry/:

Lee says Perry’s films and television shows are a minstrel show. Perry has experienced this criticism before, but never from a fellow celebrity in the film world. Here is what the Do The Right Thing director told Ed Gordon on Our World with Black Enterprise, which aired this weekend:

“Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is “coonery” and buffoonery. I know it’s making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better. … I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne”) and I am scratching my head. … We got a Black president and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep ‘n’ Eat?”

Spike continues…

“We’ve had this discussion back and forth. When John Singleton [made "Boyz in the Hood"], people came out to see it. But when he did “Rosewood,” nobody showed up. So a lot of this is on us! You vote with your pocketbook, your wallet. You vote with your time sitting in front of the idiot box, and [Tyler Perry] has a huge audience. We shouldn’t think that Tyler Perry is going to make the same film that I am going to make, or that John Singleton or my cousin Malcolm Lee [would make]. As African Americans, we’re not one monolithic group so there is room for all of that.But at the same time, for me, the imaging is troubling and it harkens back to “Amos n’ Andy.”"

Here was my comment:

At anyrate, as far as the topic discussed earlier regarding Spike's comment on Tyler Perry I'd have to say that I agree on several factors with Spike. Several friends and I have debated over this very issue. Michael, Tyler has the clout and the respect as well as money to help further a positive message in the media for African American's across the world. But if you compare his shows and some movies it does force you to question his morals and respect for our people. My Plea to Tyler Perry PLEASE STOP THE FOOLING AROUND AND PLACE POSITIVE MESSAGES FROM NOW ON TO HELP SAVE OUR CULTURE, THANKS!

Then Michael played a clip of Tyler being P'd off on what Spike said of his work. Here is the exact excerpt of what Tyler had to say compliments http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2009/10/22/tyler-perry-responding-to-spike-lees-critique-to-be-profiled-on-60-minutes-this-sunday/:

Says Perry, “You know, that pisses me off. It really does. Because it’s so insulting. It’s attitudes like that that make Hollywood think that these people do not exist and that’s why there’s no material speaking to them,” he tells Pitts. “I would love to read that to my fan base.”

And Micheal opened up his show again for callers opinions. I commented the following:

Come on you mean to tell me Tyler that you want for ignorant people to be more exposed??? Shame on you for even taking it there. Yes, Spike cares just as well as Bill Cosby. Making fun of ourselves and laughing at ourselves because we want to take that power away from the white man? Come on Michael... Whatever happened to educating one another and seeing black families making a success and not always struggling.

And would you believe that 2 ladies wrote in and commented stating regarding my comment:

Says Lady, 1 plz..lets keep it real...i never got out of any off tylers movies or plays to be offensive...

Says Lady 2, I'm a little lost.....I've seen ALL of Tyler's movie and although he has played to stereotypes, he also has some very positive role models in his movies. Also, people fail to realize that 90% of his movies are based on his plays. I am sure he will make other movies, let's give him time. Doesn't he have a new movie coming out that he did with Oprah Winfrey??

My comment to them was:

Ok ladies thanks for your input. So let's look at the big picture here and not some foolishness that will entertain you for the moment. I really have so much to add that really needs our black women's attention. But I will have that covered in my own personal Blog and Notes section on Facebook. All I am trying to express is simply what Ludicris, Hill Harper and Dick Gregory amongst others have expressed. We as a Black People have to do better. So what that Tyler has been successful with his shows and money. So what is he doing with it now in a complete positive means??? That film that he and Oprah are doing is about a tragic incident of inner city issues and abuse. Come on ladies stand up for something positive or fall for anything. I am not on that boat ride as I seek to help our people and not showcase a constant struggle. As Maya A. says "I Rise".

Of course there followed more commentary from these two ladies as well as some nice points addressed by other women too whom understood where I was coming from. These should be healthy conversations that spark you to communicate on the issue and to do something about it.

So when I make this comment "Stand Up For Something Or Fall For Anything" there is reason behind it. I will list my Top 3

#1. Begins with my passion of how assertive I feel a point needs to be made in a positive manner.

#2. Is the shock of how some people will allow the glitter and gold, glitz and glamor to blind them from the harsh reality in how we are being affected.

#3. Is my effort to uncover what is hidden and to assist with sparking the conversation to not just talk about it but to actually do something about it.

Please don't let Spike's past failure's and success and Tyler's current success blind you from what is actually happening in our Black culture and individual communities. Here in the U.S. we are becoming extinct on so many levels. Education, Home Ownership, Relationships, Procreating, Marriage, Family, Vocation, Health, Wealth and the list just multiplies on.

Yes, I feel that both of them have their points but I also feel that they both can do something about it to HELP SAVE US! They both can either work with some legendary black Thespians, Authors and Poets to shine a wonderful lighted path for The New Leaders Of The Future to follow.

There needs to be an end to the bickering and to do what you can to make the difference in your own community. Yes we each have a responsibility to do something as well. I have taken my step further in developing a local Non Profit that will soon be Global to help communities. It was formed by my sister and I and the name of it is "Sisters Benefiting The Community, Inc."

Feel free to write to me to get more information on it or to spark the debate on what was discussed here. I welcome any and all feedback.

Peace and love unto us ALL.

Wanting Some Closure

Why do we hang on to past relationships that we know we should have never been in?

Why do we allow ourselves to feel bitterness when it doesn't work out?

Why do we find ourselves comparing our new reationships with the old one's?

We compare the Sex #1, Money #2, Physical attributes #3 and everything else is sort of falls in line.



Let's be honest here... I know that there is a majority that agrees with me.

#1 Sex - If the sex with the Ex was the BOMB! or Awesome! and the current partner really can't get you there... Hmmm... you know you find yourself thinking and comparing the two.

#2 Money - If the other partner was paid or wealthy and the current partner is broke or stingy as heck. What do we ultimately do? Yes, we find ourselves comparing the two again.

#3 Physical attributes - Now whether you admit this or not I will blatantly state this. If your Ex had a Banging body or was really sexy either with killer abs/ or very shapely you know that is the first thing you compare when you see them naked.



Proving my point as I said earlier. We find ourselves getting holding on to memories, comparing the relationship and now bitter because you are no longer with that person and they have moved on to someone else.



This really sucks but it rings true. Now how many will be honest enough to agree? Please reply back to me. Thanks for reading.