LZ Granderson: Rick Perry's Rock ---- Not Our Problem

My must read for this week is CNN'S LZ Granderson. The brother has composed two articles in which he knocks it out the park. The first one:

CNN Contributor LZ Granderson commenting on the alleged slur on Rick Perry’s rock. He says that although it is disturbing, he believes there are other more important issues facing the black community, such as poverty, unemployment, education and songs like the demeaning-to-women "Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay," the most popular hip hop track on the charts this week. Granderson says that the word on the rock is a secondary issue, and that the black community should explore the internal harm they inflict upon themselves.

And here's an excerpt:

The number one song on Billboard's R&B/Hip Hop charts this week is a romantic little ditty called "Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay".

In it, Big Sean refers to the object of his affection as "my bitch" while Kanye West boasts that his girl is cool because she performs oral sex while wearing shades.

Again, this is the most popular song on black radio right now

How do we wave an angry finger at what Governor Rick Perry's rock may or may not have said 20 years ago while something like "Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay" is happening right in front of our faces, in real time?

Perry's "Niggerhead" revelation is disturbing but if the controversy forces him out of the race tomorrow, life for black America would not be changed. Our unemployment rate would still be twice the national average, we'll still be disproportionately living in poverty, we'll still be lagging behind in education.

The real story is if the black community doesn't find a way to heal ourselves from these self-inflicted wounds, there won't be much of a black community left for people like Perry to offend.
Read the full article - Rick Perry's Rock --- Not Our Problem

And not to leave Herman Cain alone for his unabashed tendency to exploit the African-American community's woes to win over right wing Tea Party types, he writes:

Cain Rises By Slamming Race

The more inflammatory his statements were, the more television time he received, and the more his numbers climbed. He's not campaigning for president; he's auditioning to be the next pop culture bad boy, and he's using the media to do it.

Now, some pundits say Cain catapulted from curious long shot to unlikely front-runner because of the growing popularity of his 9-9-9 tax plan, which calls for a 9% national sales tax, a 9% personal income tax rate and a 9% corporate tax rate. I say he's been touting that plan of his for months, but he didn't move the needle until he started tossing the poor and the black community under the bus two weeks ago.

Since the change in strategy, everyone from Cornel West to Harry Belafonte to yes, Jesse Jackson (told you we love him) has taken time to condemn Cain, which now enables him to frame himself as a victim of internalized racism. That tack will certainly keep this routine of his going for at least another week. Read More

I file the Cain act under, even a broken clock is right two times a day.

Yes, some of the issues Cain raises about the black community are accurate. Yes, racism, while still alive and kicking, isn't the main hindrance to success for black America. And, I concur, too many African-Americans look to DC or big government to solve our problems.

But what Cain does is absolutely deplorable. He doesn't strategize with our community to help remedy the problems. He doesn't launch mentoring programs to help young black students find success through education and hard work. As a former CEO of a Fortune 500 company, he doesn't bring home his knowledge for the next generation to emulate.

No, he exploits these problems for personal gain and status among folks that do not have the black community's best interest at heart. In a blatant opportunist way he runs to bigots and tells them,

you are not a racist because all of those folks are lazy and jealousy of your position in society.

Once again, amen brother Granderson - preach on.