Black Folks and McDonald's

What is it about McDonald's and Black folks? Before I begin I should backtrack, this blog is not a critique about representation perse. I know African Americans in this country has struggled for years and years for a place, a voice, and positive images in mainstream media. So, we can all probably agree that Black folks have media representation to a certain degree. My problem really begins with the ways in which we [as a community of people who share the same skin color] are portrayed.

I live in the south; I am sure the television commercials I see are geared toward a southern demographic. Therefore I should expect to see commercials that [advertisers believe based on qualitative research] are intended for communities in which they can sell their products. Having established that, I am still somewhat miffed at the abundance of fast food commercials, especially McDonald's commercials that depict Blacks enjoying this unhealthy _ _ _ _. Now, I am not trying to begin a fallacious argument here, I completely understand that my inquiries could be perceived as generalizations. Nonetheless, as a personal trainer and fitness junkie, I can't help but wonder if advertisers themselves are not relying on a the false assumption that Blacks are not very food conscious. I'll be honest there is a need in the African American community for greater health and fitness awareness in terms of our diets. For example, high blood pressure is a lot more common among African Americans.

I guess what really irritates me is that these commercials seem so culturally biased, almost as if McDonald's is floridly catering to one specific group, simply because they believe this group is not very well informed about their products. It all smells really disingenuous; and I know I have used that word in several blogs, but sometimes it is so appropriate. Maybe I am reading too much into it; am I over analyzing here? What do you think?

Music Review: Ms. Kelly, Kelly Rowland

Before I really critique this album, I think it is pertinent to sort of draw a clear description for what I like in a CD. In fact, it's not enough to just say, "oh that CD is great or good." I need to make concrete what I look for in "good" pop music. Of course, I'm am easy to please, my taste are very eclectic, but I tend to be a little harder on artist, whom I feel have the goods, but can't seem to deliver; I'm afraid that is where Ms. Kelly finds itself.

First, I hate monotony; I love diversity. I love when an artist plays with various sounds, but still manages to stick to a solid theme for the disc. Case in point, Christina Aguilera's last album, Back to Basics, it was brilliant. Her concept for the album from start to finish is very apparent. She was very meticulous lyrically, vocally, and musically.

Ms. Kelly, unfortunately is not the album it could be. It starts with the fun sort of playful sound of 'Like this' and keeps the same groove with the next track 'Comeback'. Yet, towards the middle the sound and intensity of the album seem to fade. Basically you'll get bored with Ms. Kelly real quick. The disk lacks diversity both musically and vocally. Kelly seems to hold back on many of the slower tracks, ones in which her soaring soprano should shine. Tracks like 'Every thought is You' and 'The Show' leave little to be desired. The bright spots on this disc appear toward the end with 'Still in love with my Ex' and 'Love' both tracks seem the most authentic, ones in which Kelly truly speaks from the heart. With such a sassy in your face title as Ms. Kelly, one would think that each track is going to show Ms. Rowland in a whole new light, contrasted with her DC image. Consequently, she doesn't seem to deliver what the title promises. This is not the self-actualizing and defining album she needed. I guess, I'll end with the words of a young diva, gone too soon, Kelly "dust yourself off and try again."

Download- Comeback, Still in love with my Ex, Flashback, and Love.

Beyonce "Roboho" or Sharpton "Mediawhore"?

Bootilicious Diva Beyonce Knowles finds herself, or better put, her wardrobe in somewhat of a controversy; the starlet's recent BET Awards performance has sparked some media attention due to supposed racist comments made about her performance outfit. Editors on TMZ.com called the robocop outfit a roboho costume. Now, Al Sharpton has come to her defense claiming the comments were racist and derogatory to women. Although I can to a certain degree concur with Sharton's sentiments, I do not believe the writers at TMZ were making a conscious effort to demean women, or Miss Knowles herself. According to Sharton,"Calling any woman a "ho" is demeaning and abusive and it should not be tolerated on any level. It is intolerable to think that TMZ.com would find humor in calling Beyonce -- someone who symbolizes the strength, dignity and uplifting of Black women [are you serious!] -- a "Roboho," and they should be denounced by the entire community for glorifying the continued oppression of women with this derogatory term. Racism in America is perpetuated by ignorance and hate and using one's airwaves or media entity to promote it is a blatant setback to civil rights and the advancement of equality."

Of course, I can agree; there are derogatory words in our society that are used with malicious intent to harm and degrade people in our society, whether the intended group is apart of a minority culture is irrelevant to some degree. Yes, Mr. Sharpton racism in America is perpetuated by ignorance and hate, but educating people about racism and it's pervasive effects on a progressive society, such as the United States [ or at least I'd like to think so] is the key, not censorship. I would like to think you are interested in seeing an America that is motivated to love and respect differences in our culture as apart of the social fabric that holds us together. Nonetheless, when you live in a democracy, a place in which free-speech is protected as a right in the Constitution, you have to have the impediment to protect it. Mr. Sharpton I don't believe you do. As a social activist, I believe it is your duty to call attention to crisis in our society that really seek to demean women, men, children, anyone. If you truly believe in equality for all Americans then stop pandering to a false belief that every word out of someones mouth should tow some political line. Yes, I do believe people whom have a voice in mainstream media have a responsibility to speak with intelligence and respect, but let's be honest; free speech is often hateful; it's a part of what makes our nation great. You and I both have the right to express our opinions. But, when you degrade or disrespect people, you will have to pay the consequences for your actions. Yes, call attention to the way women are portrayed in the media. Inform people about the double standard performing artist face in a male driven industry. Let's get to the root of the problem; don't gloss over the real issues by using a comment made about an outfit to advance your own agenda, whatever that may be [you're sort of all over the place Mr. Sharpton]. Why do women in the pop music industry especially, feel the need to sell their bodies as a way to sell their music? Why do we accept Rap artist calling women "hos" and "bitches' and don't speak out against the blatant misogyny embedded within the music? Women are not objects, but when artist such as Beyonce and Britney parade around in their own videos as if they are; how can you condemn someone for calling them a name that seems to represent the behavior? Maybe this is where you should begin. Finally, Mr. Sharton you do not seem to know a lot about Ms. Knowles career in the music industry, which speaks to the disingenuous nature of your remarks. Check out her past two albums, Dangerously in Love and B-Day. On the first album, the song entitled 'Naughty Girl,' Beyonce boast about being some guy's naughty girl. On her second disc, she has a song called 'Freakum Dress.' Now, what self-respecting, strong, dignified, and uplifting Black woman lauds about being freaky in bed and wearing her freakum dress to clubs? Hm mm....I don't know many. Yes, Beyonce is very popular and I'm sure many young girls admire and look up to her. But, she is not necessarily, given the many sexualized images she invokes, the woman you claim you're defending. Similarly, I am not saying women cannot be sexy and dignified; I do believe together they are hard to project.