Somebody's got to die!
Worse than the Hatfields and the McCoys, bloodier than the Barksdales vs the Stanfield crew battle, and possibly even stupider than the Montague vs Capulet feud, the on-going acrimony between natural haired sistas and, um, unnatural haired sistas has officially reached it’s boiling point. Lives will be lost. Livestock will be raped. And, according to Demetria Lucas, discounts will be had.
From “Does Natural Hair Get You Ahead?”
Over the weekend, I read a story about a club promoter in Atlanta who was offering discounts to women with natural hair.
According to The Grio, the promoter expressed his “utter disdain” for weaves and love for natural hair on his blog, which includes a section where readers can find natural hair blogs and products.
“Now he’s putting his money where his mouth is,” TheGrio.com reports. “By giving $10 off tickets to his Atlanta Classic Post-Game Affair on the 24th of [September] and $5-$10 discounts to his FAMU Homecoming event [this past Friday]. Discounts [were] available to women with natural hair, and they[used] the code ‘natural’ when buying tickets.”
Now, I don’t plan on writing a comprehensive post breaking down all of the issues between black women with natural hair and black women with perms. Why? Well, I just don’t feel like writing the 200,000 or words that would be necessary to do that. But, I will say that this battle is just one of the more prominent of the many wars going on within our community today — decades-long points of contention that have the power to split families, end marriages, and, in some extreme cases, bleach skin.
Here’s a few more.
Lightskinned vs Darkskinned
The granddaddy of them all, you can argue that everything on this list stems from this historically heavy topic. You can also argue that since he was the only person in recorded history to successfully man up and fight on both sides, Michael Jackson needs a f*cking holiday.
HBCU vs PWI
A battle that’ll be even more contentious in the next couple of weeks, as hundreds of universities around the country will hold their homecomings, giving HBCU alums their yearly opportunity to be condescending f*cks and annoy the ever living sh*t out of everyone around them. Btw, HBCU brethren, you can continue to try, but you’re just not going to ever succeed at making me feel bad that I didn’t do undergrad at Cheney or Prairie View A&M. I appreciate the effort, though.
Northern vs Southern Blacks
A battle which basically comes down to the fact that northern blacks assume southerners are stupid, and southern blacks assume northerners are stupid for preferring Range Rovers over Impalas.
Uber-Christian Blacks vs Everyone Else
In the most lopsided battle yet, uber-Christian blacks are kicking the asses of the secular blacks so badly that many of the uber-Christian black leaders (Eddie Long, Donnie McClurkin, etc) have switched teams to make things more even.
Anyway, people of VSB.com: Will any of these battles ever end? Also, can you think of any other battles that should have made the cut?
Lastly (and most importantly), which of these wars would you spend $59.95 to watch on PPV?
—The Champ
***If you get a minute, check out “Does He Love Me” — The Champ’s latest at Madame Noire***
I would pay good money to watch the Uber-Christians versus the Uber-Ghetto.
Then again, I”m almost afraid they’d be the same people. . .
Then again, I”m almost afraid they’d be the same people. . .
You ever notice how extremely hood people always have scriptures, albeit either misspelled somehow or misinterpreted, some where tattooed on them? Or better yet, how when going through a struggle and even though they may not have been to church for years, God is never far from their minds, or atleast not far from their Twitter updates?
It’s their way of saying “God is always with me.. see how much I love him?” without actually having to do anything…..
They would most likely be the same people.
Something about ignorance and extreme religion go hand in hand
I would pay to see that too! Uber Christians misquoting the scripture and the Uber Ghetto trying to get crunk with them spitting out Eubonics. SMH.
bucket!
lol!
I would pay good money to watch the Uber-Christians versus the Uber-Ghetto.
Then again, I”m almost afraid they’d be the same people.
tu motherf*ckin shea
And you would be right
I cannot tell you how many Lightskin VS Darkskin parties I’m invited too. Just..
-Kicks over stuffed bear- iCant -__-
Hey hey hey! What’d Mr. Brrrr-Beary do to you?
Where do you live?
that was my same thought…..i havent heard of any of these parties in my parts of town and where does the brown skint sistas fit in? Is there paper bag testing to see who side the brown skint girls will be on? Does somebody win somethin
“where does the brown skint sistas fit in”
as the bouncers
I think some attitudes in our community about skin tone, hair texture, and religion are more so Regional!..just like certain relationships are more accepted up North/East Coast or West Coast.
Finding certain healthy food or natural hair care products are more difficult in the South when everything is Fried, weaved up etc ( I like my Soul Food, Paula Deen Organic, Remi and Natural too)…
“I think some attitudes in our community about skin tone, hair texture, and religion are more so Regional!..just like certain relationships are more accepted up North/East Coast or West Coast”
i agree with this. you know what’s funny? if you turn on an NFL or NBA game, you can tell where a player is from just by looking at his name. If he’s Malik or Jamal, he’s definitely from the northeast. Dontavious or D’Brickashaw — definitely the south.
I recently made a trip back to Texas to visit my family. I was looked at weird and even laughed at by a few people because I rock a natural (a fro). Now, I reside in small town right outside of D.C.; so almost all the sisters and brothers I see in this area have locks, a blow out, or twist. But down south, if your tracks aren’t pink, or you’re wearing the 100% human hair while ordering a 12 pcs extra crispy; you’re pretty much ‘acting white’.
Some of my family told me I was I wasn’t ‘black’ any more because I chose eat baked salmon over some fried catfish. Its not that, its just I chose to live healthy and be more conscious over what I put in my body vs. being defined as ‘black’ by having diabetes or being morbidly obese. Even mentioning the words ‘healthy’ and soul food in one sentence to most of these people is like an oxy-moron.
For the most part, there aren’t really any natural or holistic food stores down south, most of the hair shops cater to women who’re hair is permed, or weaves (as you’ve stated). If my plan works, my organic food store chains will change all of that.
when every other southern rap artist song is somethin’ like Long Hair Yella Bone Red Bone blah blah the skin tone thing is mentioned a lot in a certain age bracket
You are so right in the south light skin is definitely highly regarded over dark skin…its disgusting the behavior of it all. People here are living in a closed minded ignorant relm that the “man” wants them to be in. The idea that “white is right…or if it ain’t light it ain’t right”…If your an attractive dark skin sistah just about every compliment you get will be something to this effect “gosh your pretty to be dark skin”.
“gosh your pretty to be dark skin”
Why o why are we still saying that?
I hear that all the time by black folks. Mainly by black folks, other people of various other persuasions just tell me I’m beautiful.
You know, I’ve only heard of these parties in the blogosphere…they almost seem fantastical
there was definitely a “light-skinned” party in Detroit a few years ago…i dunno if light-skinned girls got in free or got free drinks but it was something like that. there was the obligatory dark-skinned retort a few weeks later.
sigh.
@Lina…Yeah, I agree these seem completely fantastical. Think there was a rumor of something of this nature going on when I was at Xavier….but I was just like say it ain’t so and kept on moving. It probably was true knowing New Orleans though. Somethings they just can’t shake.
” there was definitely a “light-skinned” party in Detroit a few years ago”
Yeah, this doesn’t surprise me. It’s just funny how quickly ppl try to scapegoat the South when it comes to this, but anybody who’s lived in the South and the North (such as myself) knows that’s utter bullsh*t. It’s the whole country. The South just gave light-skinned chicks cool nicknames (which the rest of the country has since adopted) and the Southerners just don’t feel the need to pretend or try to be politically correct. The Northerners just like to use words like “preference” or “exotic”. It’s all the same sh*t
Truth!
@Justmethe guy
Props on your post, man. Keep spitting that hot fire, dude.
I was thinking the same thing…do such gatherings really exist? And if so, why haven’t they seen similar demise as WACO??
I’m in Canada…we too pu$$y to put on such events….
@keisha
where in canada are you?
(that felt weird to type btw.. lol)
hey…do you think you could tell us how many you ‘ve been too? or at least try. cuz i have never actually seent or heard of one of those outside of that one joker in Detroit who tried to pull that off. where else does this happen. do tell. really…we need to know.
Yeah. I am curious to know as well.
I don’t think any of these battles will ever end. As time progresses, they’ll more than likely grow and manifest themselves in new and different ways.
I’d put my bf’s last 59.95 on the line to see the light skinned vs. dark skinned war. I’d prolly even go out and buy a 3D tv for the occasion (Nothing like beady beads in 3D).
lmao…the term “beady beads” brings me back so many memories of martin
I think I know all the episodes backwards and forwards (up until they got married)
YASSSSSS @ Beady Beads in 3D! We need to make this happen while the (albeit silly) 3D juggernaut is still mighty!
Lemme get on the Bat Phone see what I can do…
“I’d put my bf’s last 59.95 on the line to see the light skinned vs. dark skinned war. I’d prolly even go out and buy a 3D tv for the occasion (Nothing like beady beads in 3D).”
that wouldnt be much of a fight, though. the lightbrites would lose quicker than you can say “marvin’s room”
word…lol
why so?
I think it’d be a pretty good fight
i think you assume all lightskint chicks know they daddies.
*ducking tomatoes*
but really. light skint chicks would have something to prove since most of y’all assume that the darkskint chicks are gonna be linebackers or something. i’m with arby. i think it might be a fairer fight than you think.
Will they end?
Nawl. Unfortunately.
Most of the light vs. dark, natural vs. perm debates stem from slavery & colonialism, but many of us like to pretend that “we’re over that.”
Clearly, we aren’t (have you heard how sisters go in on Ye’s white girl phase?), and we’ll never be over it until we–as Bob said–brake the chains of mental slavery. And no, I’m not a crunchy granola chick, but some things are just the way they are.
Other contenders for the battle? Hmm….
Black men vs. Black women. Sadly, this is a bloodier battle than them all*
*for some…i don’t buy into it, personally.
****And no, I’m not a crunchy granola chick****
LOL – You have NO idea how much I’m going to be using this phrase in the future. It is SO taken and used it’s not even funny.
crunchy granola chick
Yeah, I been using that term since the early days of Baduism.
Dont forget the black middle-class Vs. black lower-class battles.
“Black men vs. Black women. Sadly, this is a bloodier battle than them all*”
i was actually gonna say black female bloggers vs. black males on twitter….
but this covers it as well.
*shrugs*
Hmm, word? I’m a black female blogger who doesn’t find it 1) necessary or 2) productive to “go in” on men.
Some people NEED to be called out (they beg for it), but that it’s ALL black men + ALL black female bloggers.
and i’m sure folks dont feel like they’re ‘going in’ on the opposite gender..
just “constructive criticism on how to be great” (in their eyes)
lol
lol
I don’t go in. I slice, dice, slash, burn and crush. Wanna make something of it? Lol.
black female bloggers vs. black males on twitter
i dont know about this one. black males bloggers are more predominant and um.. voice their non-facts/opinions alot more sternly and loudly. for when i as a female disagree, we can’t ever just disagree i MUST be wrong.
i disagree. you wrong.
I knew we forgot one-blunts vs papers/bongs!
“Black men vs. Black women. Sadly, this is a bloodier battle than them all”
***reluctantly shaking my head***
I know right.
SMH
” Black men vs. Black women. Sadly, this is a bloodier battle than them all*”
Dammit! You beat me to it. This is the most troubling battle of them all to me. I had no idea how much the genders hated each other until I started reading different blogs and talking to older (bitter *ss) negroes of both sexes. Men and women resent the h*ll out of each other. Scary…It’s pretty d*mn refreshing to meet a chick that doesn’t hate men these days tho
+1
Come on over to le blog…we don’t hate men at all (but we will pull your coattails….outta love lol).
http://www.whoucallinabitch.com
I really hate that I laughed so hard at that Michael Jackson line. So.dayum.wrong.
Dayum, I’m gonna start seeking out natural hair discounts now, didn’t know that was the lick. *oh, and I’m kinda partial to Caprices over Impalas. *snickers*
Caprices, huh? I guess it’s easier to throw punch cats in them
Naw mane. Implala has been killing the scene since bout ’59. I don’t like the mid 80′s ones or the early 90′s ones that looked like Caprices and Luminas respectively though.
Hmm, I don’t think any of these “battles” will ever die. I don’t know why there is even contention btw some natural hair wearers & those who wear weaves/relaxers; I couldn’t give a coin purse full of sh*ts about you puttin’ perm in your head, so don’t feel obligated to give any about me wearing my big arse fro.
A coin purse full of sh*ts. That’s awesome.
@naturalista88. Im telling you, truer words have never been spoken. Why would I be concerned about how you chose to keep yourself coiffed? Clearly occupied with trying to take over the world Pinky and the Brain style. Its truly one of those you do you and let me do me situations.
What about immigrant blacks vs traditional/americans blacks?
maybe afro-carribean blacks vs. black americans (AA?)
Hmm, you forgot about African-Africans and Euro-Africans so I raise you one: Non-US Blacks v. African-Americans.
Sad but I’ve seen this happen many times.
As a us black ( 7 generations verifiable), I have never started this battle. I’ve o ly defended myself and my “kind” once a Johnny come lately decided to start talking reckless
Yeah, African-Americans vs. the rest of the diaspora is a problem.
Nigerians (I’m Yoruba) have not-so-nice nicknames for African-Americans, and I’m sure that they’re not the only Africans who do.
And African-Americans (I’m also African-American) do not always show love to their people from the Continent. Sometimes, they even get violent: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/nyregion/20africans.html
French and British Caribbean folks can have a similar dynamic vis-a-vis African-Americans to Africans’, but I essentially haven’t been witness to it.
Then you have Latinos/Latinas of obvious African heritage who do not want to acknowledge that they have Black roots or who accentuate how mixed they are. Part of this seems attributable to how race paradigms differ from country to country, but part of it seems like some serious self-loathing.
There are a bunch of other configurations and combinations (Euro-Africans, Blasians, etc.), but the ones mentioned in the preceding paragraphs were the ones that I know best.
this dynamic right here really turned me off from black people from the northeast of all ethnicities.
Just curious what exactly do Nigerians think of African Americans?
Let me preface my answer with this statement: Nigerians (and most Africans) are more divisive than Sneeches on Beaches and are rarely nationalistic at home in Nigeria.
Some Nigerians are tribalist before anything else. Some Nigerians are Christian before anything else. Some Nigerians are Muslim before anything else. Maybe it’s due to the legacy of colonialism, maybe it’s a case of people being people, maybe it’s a bit of both.
That being stated, Nigerians in America can be seen in two camps: 1) those who see themselves as very different from (and much better than) African-Americans 2) those who see themselves as less different from African-Americans than the former group does. Older Nigerian immigrants are mostly in the first camp; Younger, US-born Nigerians generally are in the second camp.
You’ve probably noticed that I didn’t state that the second group consisted of people who consider themselves the same as African-Americans. That’s for good reason: the people from the second camp acknowledge that they’re Black and that this country’s race struggle involves them, but they balance that with commitments to their ethnic group, their traditions, their families.
That guy named Ugo who played for your college football team and talked in slang with the best of them? He may have dated a lot of African-American girls, but he probably married an Igbo (like himself).
gbam!
+1
Professor Wave Cap, well done Sir!
“Nigerians (I’m Yoruba) have not-so-nice nicknames for African-Americans, and I’m sure that they’re not the only Africans who do.”
for instance? I wanna hear some of these nicknames
me too? Lets hear the names.
I have some counters…. because ….. boooooy … I tell ya….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akata
Akata is Yoruba for “stray cat.”
you gotta give us more. what does “stray cat” mean? C’mon Willis!
Hmmm. I’d rather have another Nigerian weigh in on this.
A Kenyan cat that I went to college with was stopped by the Highway Patrol. He asked “what did “You People” do when the cops stopped us? In unison we retorted “Ninja, what did you do?”
* lmao lmao lmao *
” Hmm, you forgot about African-Africans and Euro-Africans so I raise you one: Non-US Blacks v. African-Americans.”
Holy sh*t!!! How did I forget that one! That’s the most serious, intense, depressing, and prevalent battle to me. Anybody who’s parents or grandparents came from another country versus us. I really don’t get it. You can have your own identity without sh*ttin on mine.
” As a us black ( 7 generations verifiable), I have never started this battle. I’ve o ly defended myself and my “kind” once a Johnny come lately decided to start talking reckless”
EXACTLY!!! I like the term “Johnny Come Lately” tho. I’m stealing that one lol
Yes! West Indians vs. the lowly lazy shiftless “you don’t know how good you have it” Afro-Americans.
This mess is so bad that every time I meet a West Indian and tell them about my profession, they are shocked (and seemingly upset) to learn I’m your every day 6 generations-deep-in-Mississippi back folk. Then they go on to insist I must ave some Caribbean roots somewhere.
I feel you. I’m actually half and half (AA and Nigerian) and literally every single non-american person i know (black or otherwise) always attributes my “positive characteristics” to the fact that i’m not completely american. Never mind that i was born and raised in NY by my AA mother and AA stepdad (-_-)
ROTFLMAO! I get the same thing from West Indians. Then again, African-Americans from the South look at me weird for having such an exotic background. That’s why I like NY. I can deal with people who deal with both w/o any issues.
ROFLMBO! That comment about we AA’s from the South brings back to light the Southern vs. Northern ninja stuff right there, lol! And trust me, we South Floridians know about that “exotic” stuff. If you’re a Floridian here, you’re in the minority. If you’re from the Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica, CUBA, the Dominican Republic, you’re the majority. But the Jamaicans kill me with their attitudes (usually coming from the “born a yard, lately come abroad” ones). Maybe that’s how I ended up with a Bahamian man of Haitian descent – and he speak that Creole to me anytime, too, lol.
C’mon! South Florida is like NY without the snow. I’m talking about the rest of the old Confederacy who thinks everyone from the West Indies is Jamaican. I’ve had to hold back and urge to cut some of my inlaws because of that.
Yeah, you’re right in some ways, but even S. Fl. got its country way- we are still Southern too. I’ll take a Chevy (gotta have a candy paint job, gold rims, sit on oversized tires, and bass rattling in the trunk) over a Range Rover anyday.
Ah, that’s my family. Heck, my African-American mother is still a bit ticked that I resembled my West Indian grandfather. I personally despite those battles, but such is life. I’ll forever be Switzerland in that.
I actually wrote a post about this on my personal blog. The thing I like to remind non-US blacks who migrate here and disparage US born blacks is, this country wasn’t always livable for people like us and your country, isn’t livable for you. We’re 13% of our population, however, where you’re from, you’re probably somewhere around 90% of your population. How you can call our lil 13% lazy and shiftless when, that 13% has made this country one of the most livable places on Earth for people that look like us when you’re 90% still can’t get it together wherever you’re from is beyond me. We ain’t lazy, we’re tired. We’re taking a nap because we been working hard. We waking up tho. Slowly but surely, we waking up.
That was deeper than I expected.
right?!?
“We ain’t lazy, we’re tired.”
#POW
If I wasn’t married I would propose to you, Sir.
he’s already e-engaged he just doesn’t know it yet! lmao
although… i think she almost took back the ring a couple days ago… so things might be rocky… might be a good time to strike! lol
How you can call our lil 13% lazy and shiftless when, that 13% has made this country one of the most livable places on Earth for people that look like us when you’re 90% still can’t get it together wherever you’re from is beyond me
#shotsfired
Lol, that’s what I thought at first.
US Blacks are lucky in a way. While Africa was being colonized and re-colonized and the Caribbean and Latin America was being raped ya’ll had a chance to grow. US Big Stick policy and the American occupation of many Latin American/Carib countries is the reason why many of us left our homes to come here. Cold War era Africa was being cut up into pieces by Europe and the USSR, each wanted a slice of Africa’s richness.
Its not that we 90% can’t get our act together, thing is we haven’t had the chance. As soon as many countries left, they gave us their debt and put into place governments that would serve THEM. The Civil Rights Movemtent does seperate the US Blacks from others and is one of the main driving forces that bring us to the US. But it is kind of unfair to see the whole picture without considering the historical aspects that force us to leave our homes.
“Blacks are lucky in a way. While Africa was being colonized and re-colonized and the Caribbean and Latin America was being raped ya’ll had a chance to grow. US Big Stick policy and the American occupation of many Latin American/Carib countries is the reason why many of us left our homes to come here. Cold War era Africa was being cut up into pieces by Europe and the USSR, each wanted a slice of Africa’s richness. ”
Our misfortunes just happened at different times. There was no luck involved. Hell, after our Haitians brethren kicked the French out Emperor Bonaparte sold Uncle Sam the Louisiana Purchase to make up for the money lost fighting the Haitian Revolution. Many places within the purchase just became new arenas for American slavery. There was never any luck involved with being brown anywhere on the planet.
I likes ya Wu.
Truth right there, Lets all get along. I m Nigerian and I got love for all my black people.
Between Wave Cap Willis and Wu Young there really isn’t anything else to say about that so-called battle (that shouldn’t even exist in the first place). Black folks are the sh*t anyway we chop it up. So let’s just squash the fake beef like Krystal’s and White Castle do lol
FTW!
As someone with feet in both worlds, I can see both sides of the argument. On one hand, you have to remember that the non-US Blacks are among the best, brightest and hardest-working among their people. The lazy and the dumb don’t make it here. Naturally, the African-American community hasn’t had a filtering mechanism like that, so they represent the breadth of humanity for all its strengths and weaknesses. These non-US Blacks come to the US thinking the US is the Land of Milk and Honey, so when they see an American negro acting a fool, their dreams get shattered in a hurry, and they get heated about that.
On the flip side, African-Americans can be some right-wing motherlovers when in comes to outsiders. It’s not a big deal on the East Coast, but get around some American Blacks that don’t deal with Blacks from other parts of the world, and you’ll hear some prejudiced foolishness. Heck, even my mom says some ignorant stuff about West Indians…and she married one. It’s not as bad as what my dad went through as a child in the 50s, but that bias is real.
#TeamWestIndies!!
[Does the China wine, Dutty wine, Salsa across the dance floor, hit 'em with the Kompa, and booty claps during merengue (as I type this)]
As a Haitian, my experience is very different from others in the West Indies. Unlike other parts of the Caribbean known for their beaches and whatnot, Haitans come from a place that is misunderstood where most people (thanks to the media) can’t find one good thing about. We come defending our culture. A culture most of the world don’t know sh*t about. We also have to live life dispelling myths about things like voodoo and AIDS because many people are just unwilling to accept that they aren’t true. Growning up, the negativity from African-Americans was a way of them differentiating themselves from us. We were always bullied so we kept to ourselves or blended in.
I don’t look down on US-Blacks but I am proud of where I come from and understand that Haitian people and US-Blacks have a shared history. My country is a mess, not because Haitians can’t do it but because even as the 1st Black Free Nation we have never been given an oppurtunity to govern ourselves. Having been raised in the US there are things that I appreciate about African-American culture and sh*t I’ll never understand (da fcuk ya’ll like Kool-Aid for????) lol.
But us West Indians are a mess too. I’ve seen fights break out during Caribbean parties over people respresnting their countries.
Haitian sak ap fete!?!
i love that you hit em ALL!!
g’head!!
As a fellow Haitian, I approve this message!
I like Curly Top. But watch what you say bout Kool-Aid! lol
This African vs African-American “war” people on the blogosphere talk about is always interesting (for lack of a better word) to me.
The thing is, I see how revered Black Americans are, the culture, lifestyle etc by Africans.
What I will say though is, such loaded statements as the one below would not improve relations. No? #kanyeshrug
“On one hand, you have to remember that the non-US Blacks are among the best, brightest and hardest-working among their people. The lazy and the dumb don’t make it here.”
Kinda reminds me of expats(English and American (black and white)) and their reactions on first coming to this country. Ya, don’t believe everything you see on NatGeo.
It should also be stated that the Africans who made it overseas aren’t the brightest or hardest-working of their people. Some sought better opportunities, as Most stated because “you’re 90% still can’t get it together wherever you’re from”. And others were fleeing for their lives.
The rest stayed behind and fought for a better life for their kin and kith. Or made do with the little they had.
Not denying that Africans can be xenophobic and downright disrespectfull of “otherness” or what they do not understand.
Excuse the long-windedness, lack of proper grammar and punctuation
I’m like you Todd… As the daughter of a Jamaican father and American mother from SC I empathize with both sides of the coin. On my mother’s side there was cotton picking/marching while on the other there was a flight towards a better life. different struggles…
Standing O!
amen!
Wow, great comment actually.
I have had this dialogue with my AA friends. They’ve all made the same similar claims. I guess my extreme confusion comes in when I look at myself, who was born in Chicago, grew up in MD, to my west-African parents. And then I look at them, grew up the same exact number of years, to their AA parents. But yet, I’m not tired, nor am I “napping” or even trying make it an option to take a “nap.”
I guess my point is: Why are YOU tired? I’d understand your parents, maybe. Your grandparents, yes, most likely. But you’ve only been around for some 20/30 years. Why do YOU need a nap. What did YOU do during the Civil Rights movement? Which group of slaves have you to thank for gaining their freedom? I’m having trouble seeing my generation AA friends claim the same struggle as their forefathers, when in fact they can not. Your forefathers did the work to get you here, you’re here now, and you’re still trying to be “tired”/”napping” and claiming part of the work that you had no part in. It’s so confusing to me. Why are you tired? My friends are subject to the exact same racial an bigotted prejudices I have been, because we’re all black females, and yet, I have an incling as to WHY I’ve been able to accomplish a lil more.
My parents NEVER allowed us to make excuses for shortcomings. You either do or you don’t. When they were growing up in poverty, they had to do or don’t, and they did. They pushed themselves to find opportunities to make it over to the US and pursue advanced degrees. I will never claim that struggle, that will never (thank goodness) be MY struggle, I can only use it as encouragement to overcome my own generational battles which will be entirely of a different nature. And when you make excuses and victimize yourself (essentially when you weren’t even the victim, bc it wasn’t your struggle to go through), then more than likely, you won’t do much. It’s not because I’m African, but because there is difference in mentality, and I tend to think that it generally resides with African folk who have migrated over here, that a good number of “US-blacks,” tend to avoid accepting/owning their own struggle separate from that of those who came before you.
I definitely find it ignorant when Africans box American blacks into a “lazy” or “unproductive” box, because there are just as many lazy and unproductive Africans/Carribs/foreign migrants, etc (example: there is definitely a difference between the Africans/Carribs who strive to even come to the US and the ones who don’t–again, they chose to do or dont). But I find it extremely telling, when the most competent of our race (especially AAs) tend to have this victimizing mentality, whereas if you FORCE yourself to wake up from your nap already, your children will never feel it an option to take a nap in the first place.
Just out of curiosity, are all your AfAm friends children of people with advanced degrees? There is a marked difference, that spans race/ethnicity, between families where the parents had advanced degrees and families where the parents had attained less education so far as educational standards, acceptable professions, etc.
point taken. The ones I worry about, the ones who seem to continuously press the “tired from fighting for my 40 acres” issue, they’re usually the first to graduate from College from their fam. So I def see that correlation. I try to understand how that alone is a big hurdle for them to clear bc they didn’t really get to see it done before them.
That all sounds nice, but it’s bullshit tho homey. Gotta call it like I see it. It’s not about playing victim, nor is it about making excuses, it’s about accurately reading the history of black people in this country.
We’ve been at war. Our entire time in this country, we’ve been at war. The weapons used against us change generation by generation, but the enemy has always been the same. Our great grandparents were slaves, the weapons against them being chains and whips. Our grandparents, while not slaves, grew up in the legally segregated south, terrorized by jim crow laws and the klu klux klan. They were so terrorized, they began fleeing that south to come up north where opportunities abounded. They got up north started families and when the demographics of these northern cities began to change they started red lining, and pushing discriminatory housing practices that kept us isolated in our little communities – ghettos. When the cities and surburbs began becoming too dark, they flooded them with drugs. Heroin first, then crack. Do not make light of the impact of these two epidemics on our generation and do not make light of the governments role in fueling these epidemics (Iran-Contra/Freeway Ricky/Rayful Edmund anyone).
Like I said, always at war, weapons used against us just change generation by generation.
So then there’s us, we’re the children of the crack generation. We’re all crack-babies in one way or another. The scars we bare and the scars our families bare are the missing mothers, the addicted mothers, the single mothers. The missing fathers, the addicted fathers or the incarcerated fathers – these are our scars. Scars you might never notice because while we generation after generation of our families were busy fighting and enduring, your parents were fighting their own struggle in their own country.
The difference is, immigrant families like yours, ones who made it, were able to come here and get a fresh start. In doing so, they gave you the opportunity to never really know what they had to endure. You never have to see whatever they went through. All you know is that they made it and you’re here in this country and this country has opportunities that you’re happy to take advantage of.
We’re not so lucky. We visit our dads in prison, help our mothers pay their rent, raise ourselves little brothers and sisters, teach ourselves out to be good men and women, teach ourselves what family means, all while trying to take advantage of the opportunities you’re taking advantage of. So yeah, you and I might look the same on the surface, but we’re not the same. You don’t know what I’ve been through.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said “Thank you,” and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a picket sign, and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think I think I’m entitled to!
Forgive the typo’s an ish. And this was specifically a response to the homey Innovative21 – FTR
Also, upon re-reading Innovative’s comment, I realize I’m talking to a woman. Didn’t catch that at first, please excuse the profanity and aggressive tone of the response.
I never had it read out to me like that. So, I can agree with your points. You’re right, I never had to see my parents struggle, and for that, I am very grateful. Grateful and admittingly ignorant. I see what you’re saying, and I think it is very valid.
I will say, although, that there is a difference of how I view my opportunities due to my ignorance. And who’s to say my ignorance is a negative or a positive? Because, at the end of the day, I’m still succeeding, I’m crossing off my boxes (goals), while my friends are frustrated and disgruntled. I would hope no matter what your child has to witness, own, endure from her parents/grandparents/and soforth, you would want her to succeed. Maybe there’s something to be learned about raising our kids (mine and yours) to where, they can accept what they’ve seen/witnessed/owned, but still come out succeeding in life.
I don’t know where one would start, but I don’t want my kid using the same excuses my girlfriends use. It’s limiting. I’ve witnessed it, they’ve constantly acknowledged the fact that my “ignorant” mentality allows me to move quicker through racial/discriminatory obstacles that they instead get caught up on. So I guess my concern now, in finally understanding there is a clear argument for the difference in mentality, and the validity of both ways of thinking, how do we make it so that our kids can acknowledge the modified “weapons” used against us today, as well as give them the power to not be subject to or caught up on these weapons?
I guess that’s the problem we all face as black people. We have 2 different mentalities that we have to merge in order to be proud, but successful. How do we merge it? That’s the convo I’d want to have, with you, with my friends, with anyone who believes we’re all the same, and success only comes when we take what works from both sides and blend them.
(you aint got to appologize for shyt, like I said, I spent the early years of my life in chicago, and the essence of my early double-digit years in Baltimore, so I know how to not be offended where offense wasn’t intended, I respect your views and understand the delivery)
And after reading your post again, I realize you took it much more personally than I ever intended you to. Clearly it’s something that’s struck you (and I’m sure many) passionately, and somehow I managed to challenge the individual struggles you’ve personally witnessed and incurred. Trust me, my provacative question: “why are you tired” was my way of gaining understanding and trying to see it yet in another different light, which you then provided.
I’m glad you took the time to, because from here, I hope to find a better solution to this issue of separation, which does nothing but make it easier for weapons to be used against not only AAs but ALL Blacks. Because even though you want to claim we’re not the same, for the people who implement such weapons, we ARE the same.
There is power in division, and it will go to you, believe that. I’d rather spend my time on understanding where you’re coming from which would bring us together on our strengths than to harp on our differences by ignoring all that you and AAs (in general) bring to the table. So thank you for the explanation, you didn’t want to give me.
power in division *won’t go to you
yooooooo i just felt the spirit reading this comment! lol
*applauds*
Much Respect to Most as always! Completely on point. Bonus points for the “A Few Good Men” reference!
I’m going to call shenanigans on your BS. I’ve seen the same stuff Innovative21 is talking about in people from similar backgrounds to me: Both parents with advanced degrees from a middle class home. My dad is Nigerian, mom, AA. In my undergrad, I decided to join the organization of african students, and ended up on the e-board. I had friends in both groups (OAS and BACC [black awareness coordinating committee).
For reasons I never understood, there was a good amount of animosity between most groups. From my position as e-board, there was consistent animosity from AAs to african students which eventually balanced out. Let me explain further. Freshmen african students would come in with the assumption that both sides were friendly, the same – no idea really that there were two sides. By their second year, they were disabused of that notion. But incoming AAs never seemed to have to learn that lesson. Anyway, the inevitable result would be that people on both sides would just fall back on stereotypes about each other.
You can’t believe how surprised I was to get to college and have to deal with the same crap I did in elementary school when I first moved to the states. Now, as an adult, people I interact with don’t seem to have this issue. I don’t know if it’s because when I do interact with “black” people now, they’re mostly AAs and given that I more or less look and sound American, I don’t get exposed to those biases. Perhaps things would be different were I to start hanging out with a mostly african group and start experiencing their interactions with others in Pittsburgh where someone’s perspective of me is as an African, and not AA.
I think your experience would be different. When my black student group had an airing out meeting about this subject back in undergrad, the non-US black students mentioned that their parents (or they themselves) came to the US with negative stereotypes of AAs that US media fed them. When they moved here they looked down their noses at AAs and taught (or tried to teach) their children to do the same. Trust that the ignorance and defensive, reactionary BS is bad on both sides.
Am I the only one who peeped the hypocrisy in Innovative21′s statement? You can’t tirade about lazy African Americans whom you seem to have “accomplished a little bit more than, ” then slap the disclaimer at the bottom about how you think its ignorant when Africans generalize. That’s exactly what you just did. The fact that your friends may be slackers, has absolutely nothing to do with me or my achievements as an African American female, or any of the other African Americans whom have made something of their lives. All it really says is that you are friends with people whom you feel are lazy…with friends like you, who needs enemies?
“It’s not because I’m African, but because there is difference in mentality, and I tend to think that it generally resides with African folk who have migrated over here, that a good number of “US-blacks,” tend to avoid accepting/owning their own struggle separate from that of those who came before you.”
So what you’re saying is that the African American struggle ended abruptly sometime around the time the Civil Rights Movement ended and is completely unrelated to any struggles we might face today? #Oh, excuse me, I was not aware of that, thank you for the enlightenment….
My suggestion to you, is to stop letting media portrayals and/or your limited circles dictate your views on the rest of us.
I don’t think it dictates her view on the rest of you. I’m in her situation and everything she says resonates with me. Media portrayals have nothing to do with it. We grew up (pretty much) watching tv in the US and have been exposed to the same media environment as AAs. Are our circles limited? Sure, though I think we could argue we have wider circles than the typical AA due to our economic background and status and treatment (from time to time) as outside the AA experience.
In any case, these are not generalities about AAs. These are specific comments and observations about a hypothetical fight between AAs and non-American black people. Perhaps you have some idea of what this hypothetical fight looks like. I think what we are presenting to you is what the real life battles have actually ended up being and what you’d be getting were you to pay your $55.95.
@ Mr. Wee Thomas
I think the generalizing is so engrained in you, that you don’t even realize you’re doing it. I called her circle limited, because she’s basing her opinion upon her friends. This can be intelligently infered from her statements. Note I am specifically referring to her, not “All Africans.”
Now you go on to make the statement that you can argue that “your” circle is bigger than “mine.” Oh? What was it that lead you to that conclusion. Was it the universities I attended? The jobs I’ve held? The committees I’ve presided over? The places I’ve traveled on business? No. Couldn’t be, because you don’t know me, nor my full first name. You based your assumption on your background in comparison with mine. You used the phrase “the typical AA” for goodness sake!!! Pray tell what is that? I’m looking for a definition. You sir, are generalizing. Truth hurts.
I’m not even addressing your $55.95 statement because it makes no sense and is borderline ignorant. You know nothing about what I’ve “paid” or been through, and I’ll thank you in advance to refrain from commenting on it.
Excuse me, Most, while I hug you with so much love. Homie. I just. You the bomb. lol
Yeah Most summed it all up quite thoroughly. Couldn’t have said it better myself. The nerve of some folk. I don’t even think this is shots fired. I think it’s just a reality check. I mean, if AAs started this beef then I think this would be shots fired, but this is all in self-defense, and it’s all true. Those folks can’t relate to being 13% of the population with some of the most ruthlessly ambitious and technologically (especially as far as weapons are concerned) advanced ppl in the world. Just say thank you and then take your piece of the pie, don’t get disrespectful and expect us to just sit there and take it while you say myopic, condescending, and ungrateful sh*t about us (drops mic and leaves)
“if AAs started this beef then I think this would be shots fired, but this is all in self-defense, and it’s all true”
I guess it can be seen as self-defense for e’rbody then. All’s I’m trying to say is WE have insulted each other based on some nonsensical bullsh@t. We all Black when the lights go out our enemy is the same. No it isn’t the white man, its our own ignorance of the other’s culture.
I think I’ve identified the problem. See when visas are issued they never mention that you should routinely send thank you notes and tokens of appreciation to the High Council of Representatives of All AAs. So if you could lobby USCIS to add this as a requirement for getting the magical US visa for Africans/ Caribbeans /Dominicans/Haitians/Other Diaspora Black people it might solve this particular problem.
@Passingthrough- That might actually solve the problem. I’ll go prepare the memo lol
Sounds like an excellent idea. I will lobby Congress for a gratitude regulation.
*stands and applauds loudly while co-workers pass by and stare*
A better question to ask our African Brothers / Sisters is Why ain’t you come look for us!!!??? *In my jilted / scorned child voice* If the tribal history tells of poachers stealing family members, you’re sorry for not coming to look for me….I’m just sayin’
This comment is simply not knowing the history of what a lot of sub-Saharan Africa has gone through and is completely arrogant and unjustified. Africa has been colonized since the beginning of time but most notably in the 1800s. Many of these countries just recently gained their independence. What was left over after their independence are ethnic clashes that this country saw for a short minute while there are still countries in Africa going through straight h3ll…in 2011!!! I understand that we, blacks in America, have gone through hard crazy times but NOTHING compares to what a lot Africans have gone through. This is probably why the ones that come here have no sympathy for our complaining. They are probably thinking to themselves, “this kid has never seen true h3ll, I left it on Tuesday to board a plane to come here.” Africans should be tired and black Americans should be handing them a pillow.
I agree with the history many of the sub-Saharan Africa has gone through but that does not excuse having a I’m holier than you persona. My issue would be if we’re running in the same circles and we both grindin’, how can you still feel that I’m not your equal or speak of me in negative connotation?
And on this, I agree with you. In a perfect world, everyone would be accepting, but in the real world, it doesn’t happen. I took issue with the commenter asking “how you can call our lil 13% lazy and shiftless when, that 13% has made this country one of the most livable places on Earth for people that look like us when you’re 90% still can’t get it together wherever you’re from is beyond me.” This comment was just too much for me to ignore.
” This is probably why the ones that come here have no sympathy for our complaining.”
But they’re delusional if they think we’re asking for sympathy. All I’m asking is for them to shut the h*ll up about issues that aint their business. If no one asked you, that means we didn’t wanna know what you thought. I’m the first to tell Afro-Americans about how much better we have it (in 2011 at least) than so many ppl in the world. I tell them about all the opportunity we’re missing while we stay distracted by bullsh*t. Also, I can see myself doing humanitarian work in countries with more of a desperate need before helping ppl with psychological needs (such as ppl in this country) but I’m sick of ppl that aren’t from here telling us what our problems are and turning their noses up at us. The fact of the matter is that the opportunities they’re capitalizing on came from our efforts so the least they could do is shut the h*ll up and do what they came here to do. Many (maybe even most) of them do. I’m not talking to them, but too many of em miss even more opportunities by choosing arrogance and ignorance over communication, empathy, and progress. I prefer unity over divisiness anyway, but I don’t shake hands with someone who constantly slaps me in the face. I wasn’t raised that way.
And in defense of that other comment, it is what it is. Africans are indeed the racial majority in their countries and let’s be real, they don’t have it as together as you would assume based on the arrogance and condescension many of them direct at us constantly (and usually it’s unprovoked). We gain more from joining forces than from having “who’s the best negro” competitions, but idiotic ppl wanna be divisive so I call a spade a spade.
Ends rant and goes to find me some Welch’s Passion fruit juice
First, please bring me back a can
Second, I see where you are coming from. Honestly, I have never experienced this from any Africans (I have worked with and managed Nigerians, Ethiopians, and Somalians and am friends with some Ethiopians and Nigerians). I think that the condescension comes from the complaining and the stereotypes that they see of black Americans. Think of it this way, if you have a rich friend that complained about how hard life is and how unfair life is, wouldn’t you look at them and think to yourself “you really don’t know the definition of unfair or hard”?
The challenge is as an dark skinned immigrant, white America will often give you a pass…unless your Hatian, they always seem to unfairly want to send them back. It’s understood that it took some work to get here and that you’ll work to stay and keep your nose clean. When AA’s travel to Africa, we get a pass because we don’t belong to the one tribe that’s waring with another.
The pass both parties receive does not allow us to have a full appreciation of the on the ground challenges.
And herein lies the problem. Why are judgements upon African Americans being made based upon stereotypes? Is it then ok if we make judgements of Africans based on stereotypes and media images of uncivilized Shaka Zulu type images and the AIDS epidemic? No, because that is insanely ignorant. All we are asking for is the same courtesy.
Never said it was right. Just said that it happens…on both sides.
Not really following you so I rephrase my thread.
African’s get a pass in America when it comes to race relations because
a) They are not from here thus not part of the race / lazy race problem
b) Considered to be hard working (fairly or unfairly) It takes a considerable amount of time and money to make it across the pond. An individual is not going to squander the opportunity to be here by not working in some capacity. In addition, very few Africans come here without a few dollars in their pockets and a support network.
Some of the systemic problems African Americans face in working through the “system” Africans don’t have to encounter.
African Americans as tourists (in Africa in my example) get a pass because
a) You are going to bring money. Some folks will tolerate you as long as the green continues to leave your pockets.
b) You don’t belong to a tribe that’s being hated on / slaughtered i.e. reduced chance of getting murked.
An African American doesn’t have the insight to understand why are they killing each other…We’re all brothers.
The incomplete views / prospective can adversely impact our relations with one another.
My response was to Miss Mina
I understood where you were coming from and this is a good point. We don’t understand each other b/c it is hard to put yourself in the other person’s shoes.
@Sigma_93 I think you were confused because my response wasn’t directed at you, it was in response to this statement from Mena:
“I think that the condescension comes from the complaining and the stereotypes that they see of black Americans.”
I actually understood your point the first time and agree with it. We definitely get “passes” in the places where we do not reside because we are classified as “not the same as the natives.”
I also think buying into stereotypes further divides us as people of color, and if we hope to gain any real power in this country, it needs to stop. Period. Saying it is what it is, is a cop out. Whites are where they are because they had the good sense to UNITE (Jews, Irish, Italians, etc) and pull one another up, and collectively identify as white.
But as long as non-African Americans remain judgemental of African Americans, this cannot occur.
hmm….that’s a fascinating thought! thanks for sharing it!
Lest it be forgotten, many West Indian were on the front lines of the civil right movement and struggles for racial equality, Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Toure) and Harry Belafonte among the more famous ones. It should also be noted that when you speak of “you’re probably somewhere around 90% of your population” understand that the struggle for civil rights for African Americans, also overlapped with the struggle in the West Indian colonies to bring about decolonization, independence and nationhood for West Indians of all races.
interesting.
here (toronto), when a black person asks/guesses where you are from, they want to know if its the west indies (and which island) or african country.
when we do trini vs jamaica is a comedy show or soundclash. never actually anything ignorant. or maybe there is and i just dont see them.
it is probably different on the east coast/maritime provinces where you have black canadians that actually have historical roots of being born here vs immigrated here (they are descendants of those who escaped slavery through underground railroad).
i dont think we subscribe to 1 being better than the other, because when you live here, you will grow up/make friends with, date and mate people from every single island/country at some point anyways.
*waves JA flag doe..
right. I never understood why they separate themselves like that when their struggles are similar to ours.
As a person distinctly in between on all those rivalries, I can honestly say I think it’s all a moot point. I mean, I say ya’ll in religious debates while twisting my transitioning natural and lotioning my in-between brown skin. So…what’s the connundrum?
We all are varying people; we don’t stay, most of us anyway, in one state of being and become stagnant. We are constantly, hopefully, changing and evolving and to argue about which of those states is better or worse when we’ve all been there is just…foolish.
…also, the South wins, hands down, all day erry’day. I mean soul food? Booty bass? From the South to the North, you’re welcome
Now when you say “South” does this include Florida?
The North half yes. My family affectionately refers to South Florida as Northern Cuba.
That’s the question of the year.. in ALL my north vs. south debates, Florida never gets claimed…. You woulda thought we said we were Cablinasian or somethin…
I claim South Florida. Any region that produces the likes of Trick Daddy Dollars is southern.
” I claim South Florida. Any region that produces the likes of Trick Daddy Dollars is southern.”
Thank you Wu! The folks that say South Florida ain’t Southern sound like ruh tards to me. Clearly they’ve never been to any part of South Florida except South Beach.
This, People never recognize Florida as the country-backwoods place it really is. One of my coworkers mentioned as you move inland from the coast the people get a little more country.
Yes, we Floridians are kinda country – ALL of Florida. Y’all know y’all native born Floridians are country. Even we S. Floridians know our families ended up down there because somebody moved from somewhere in country-behind Georgia or N. Florida, lol. That’s cool, though. I kinda being a lil bit country.
It’s hard to visit Miami or South Beach and consider it “Southern” – I mean geographically it doesn’t get more Southern, culturally? Negative, y’all something else.
“I mean geographically it doesn’t get more Southern, culturally? Negative, y’all something else.”
Yep….the culture is a bit too diluted for other southerners to recognize Florida as the “south” (in terms of culture).
I never understood the cultural differences as a reason not to include South Florida. Their is no monolithic black Southern Culture. There are linking similarities but there are also great differences. Each state has its own thing and within various southern states there are differences.
You are right. But, I would argue that although there are cultural differences between the southern states, the differences are not apples to oranges (more like oranges to tangerines). One southern region’s core culture is still at least identifiable to the other’s.
Ahhh..too much soul food will kill ya.
…also, the South wins, hands down, all day erry’day. I mean soul food? Booty bass? From the South to the North, you’re welcome
you’re right. the south definitely wins in the race to diabetes.
So sad but true.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X9jY65TEe9I/TZE-EZ0CSBI/AAAAAAAAAZE/YEHf1ho58XA/s1600/WilfordBrimley.png
” We all are varying people; we don’t stay, most of us anyway, in one state of being and become stagnant. We are constantly, hopefully, changing and evolving ”
And this I am so thankful for!
Damn, didn’t we settle at least four of these issues way back in 1998?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awpuIbEj27Y
1988 even! And, yo, Giancarlo Esposito is cool on Breaking Bad…another reason I’m looking forward to buying/renting the latest season!
Ugh! Curse these fat fingers. >:0[ I meant ’88 and yes, I too plan to order seasons 1-3 of Breaking Bad since I missed the bus on this one.
“Ugh! Curse these fat fingers”
everything ok, man?
You want another epic battle? How about this one:
Those who care vs…..wait for it…..wait for it….
Those who don’t give a f*ck!
Which do you think I represent? If you guessed team “dontgiveaFk” then you, sir or ma’am have won. Please collect your DGAF t-shirt as a prize.
I’d like my t-shirt in an x-small please.
So noted…we have black, fushia, baby blue, white, red, and money green.
Take your pick
I’ll take mine in a money green smedium. Thanks. lol
I’d take one in purple, but I just don’t give enough of a @#$% to come by and get one.
Money green in a women’s medium or unisex small thank you
I put my money on black with white block font across the boobs, v-neck with cap sleeves in a fitted small, please ma’am. And spell out the whole profanity, please.
Mo, you stay with these witty, sarcastic hits.
I need a 2XL in black.
Thanks and will do!
I’ll take a purple in a medium baby tee
Glad someone else said it.
If you represent “those who don’t give a f*ck”, then you can’t actually argue any point since you have no alleged f*cks to give.
Those who have no fcuks to give wouldn’t have enough fcuk pocket change to make a blog comment. So I call bs on anyone claiming fcuk poverty, unless someone was specifically asking you if you had any.
Although it goes against my personal code to claim team anything I’ll take my DGAF t-shirt in XL with dark read avec white letters.
thank you, avatarious one.
*requests a black fitted to fit the bosom.
I would like a Medium. Thank you very much.
I can’t muster the strength to care… This empire is not going to build itself.
Reading ninjas vs. hood ninjas
Afro-centric vs. everyday Negroes
Mixed vs. “100%” Black
Africans vs. African-Americans
Amend that third one to read, “What people think mixed looks like vs what people think 100% black looks like.” I swear I’ve seen some people argue to the death that someone was mixed/not mixed based on hair texture, skin and eye color and more.
You get right down to it, er’body is mixed.
mixed vs. 100% black is the best addition I’ve seen so far. This should have been in the orginal post (like Luda should have been in the orginal version)
Yeah I remember the subtle Non-African American Blacks vs African-Americans (JB aka Just Black) divide/issue in college. Ridiculous piece of business. Black folk need to hug each other and sing some Mahalia Jackson.
May I suggest this as the “A” selection?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLZcoDsPUkI
but why you gotta have us rockin slowly back and forth to old negro spirituals at 9AM though?!? lol
Yes! I definitely cosign this.
This was going to be mine: Reading ninjas vs. hood ninjas
We suppose to be Brothas!
LOL! That ish makes me laugh evVERYTIME I watch Menace II Society.
Anyways, I’d put down $60 for lightskinned vs darkskinned and Southern Black vs Nothern Black.
i think southern black vs northern black would be the best fight. there’s a ton of latent hostility there.
But why is there so much hostility? My mom’s family has roots in Georgia by way of *drumroll*… Pittsburgh and everyone was cool at our family reunion in the Steel City. The people from Kentucky weren’t mean to the people from Connecticut. Even the Cleveland folks got along with the Pittsburgh people.
We as African Americans almost all have roots in the South, so North/South enmity doesn’t seem to make any sense. Especially if you spend time going to family reunions.
By the way, people are going to have to squash that North/South beef soon: the current mass exodus of Blacks from the North to the South is unprecedented.
Even though I have a preference towards the ladies w/ natural hair, I love all the hairstyles. What I love is what’s under that hair (or weave, sow-in, braids, etc)–the intelligence and sophistication of the lady.
I’m from LA and it’s sad to hear stories about certain African Americans discriminating against their own people when joining a particular Mardi Gras krewe or social club. Does anybody know anything about the “brown paper bag test?”
Lastly, Even though I am a proud graduate of LSU– a PWI–I have a passion for any and everyone getting a quality education. I support HBCUs and rally around them when they are threatened to operate in any capacity (LA Gov. Jindal tried to merge SUNO w/ UNO). HBCUs play vital roles for every citizen, esp. in the Black community. Those institution provides a unique culture, way of life, campus atmosphere, and access to higher education to some ppl who otherwise would not have received it.
Sorry for the long-windedness but I finally decided to comment on a blog. I love VSB!!
Nice to have you here Chad. I hope you comment more often from here on out.
Thanks I appreciate the love. My older brother told me about this. I love reading every post and comment. The podcasts are great as well. This site has me starting back on my blog.
“What I love is what’s under that hair (or weave, sow-in, braids, etc)–the intelligence and sophistication of the lady”
—-I love this.
Oh, and see you November 5th!
ROLL TIDE!
*u said LSU……I couldn’t resist!
It’s a collision course to Nov. 5. Winner takes all (Nat’l Champ)
welcome and shit
*throws yolie-like welcome glitter…
From one Louisiana native to another…..Welcome Chad!! . : )
Tyrese vs. correct spelling…
LMAO!
That’s not a fight tho. We know who won that one and will continue to win that one for a lil while…
Tyrese’s spelling is a pane in the dairy air
LMAO!!!!
BWAHAHAHA!
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
REAL TEARS….
Africans vs African Americans should be added. Or Caribbean blacks vs African Americans. We all forget that we’re all the same color and we’re not superior to one another, either.
hey, speak for yourself. i’m superior than a motherf*cker
Ninja, they call me Lake Superior.
Me too
I just knew this article was going to be about light skinned vs dark skinned….but natural vs unnatural?…interesting debacle… I didn’t know there was tension amongst blacks about permed or unpermed hair…maybe because I don’t care either way…I’m more concerned with my own hair growing and being healthy maybe not whether home girl across the way is rockin’ a perm or swinging my hair with the ole natural….but one thing I can say is, light skin, dark skin woes are going strong down here in Texas…this is in part why I’m moving up north..I don’t have time for this foolishness..black is black whether your “red” yellow” “dark” or “brown” ask the folks in jasper they’ll tell you there’s no difference.
Girl there is a term for women who are militant against the creamy crack. They are called natural nazi…kid you not. The black hair care boards termed them that. It’s funny, yet sad.
Women of EVERY race straighten, color, relax, weave, braid and otherwise style their hair. I wish black women would get off the “self hate” train when it comes to hair. Unless you state “I HATE MY HAIR,” and alter it because of that, then what you choose to do with it is just that…your choice.
I refer to them collectively as the Natural Hair Mafia. I have natural hair, but I do not expect anyone else to like it, and I do not concern myself with what other people do with their hair. It’s really not that serious.
I’ve been with locs to ceasar to fro a la Angela Davis, to recently a short permed pixie cut. It is hilarious to see the different attitudes and treatment I get from black women, black men, and people in general because of it. Would be great material for a documentary. An awesome social experiment.
I do feel like the “hair wars” are calming down a bit. Women wear out hair how we want to when we want to. Some of us still think a kinky texture of hair is ugly; I think the natural sistas are changing that with more blogs showcasing the gorgeous hairstyles. Then you have many natural women wearing weaves and wigs as protective styles. You also have permed chicks caring less about straightness and more about health. I do think this “battle” will fizzle out in the next decade.
Here Here! White women never have these arguments over how blond their hair is and it really is self defeating for black women to categorize one another like this. One should not BE their hair because it’s just hair
Hair battles are EPIC. It’s like there’s just something inherently personal about hair and how you maintain that just won’t allow the 2 groups to peacefully coexist. It’s like the other’s existence is a repudiation of your own, and so they must be destroyed.
As a dude, I never knew such tension existed, but once I got on a few messageboards and saw a few digital cat fights, I knew it was no joke.
there are plenty natural hair nazis…but there are plenty salty chicks with perms/weaves…just like there are salty chicks within the natural hair community who hate on people with looser texture.
it can become depressing if you think about it for too long.
Yea, I’ve seen it go both ways. I’m sure the natural hair nazis are probably in response to negativity toward natural hair.
Pretty much. There are so many hurtful and ignant comments said once someone goes natural that it’s sort of a defense mechanism. I don’t agree with the hatred toward creamy crack sistren (because it really is a losing battle and does more damage than good… and not just to the hair… lol), but I can kinda understand it.
Grits vs. Cream of wheat
Oh come on, grits all the way baby!! *lol*.
Shhhh….I know that…and you know that…but some folks out here still got it confused.
I rock with Cream of Wheat thanks.
And I am NOT confused.
Bless his poor little Northern heart.
Its all about grits. Nice and creamy with lots of butter.
Grits all day every day with some cheese in it. Throw some bacon in there too,now. Fry it crisp and crumble it in there. Now splash on some Tabasco. Don’t be stingy, now….mmmmm
Cream of Wheat FTW
Miracle Whip Vs. Mayonnaise
Neither…and for that comment I’m gonna have to take your application to the Black Coalition under review.
Black people don’t eat either of those (unless it’s in potato salad) LOL
I agree I can’t get with the whipped eggs and oil yuck!
I lubs me some Miracle Whip *hangs head in shame while eating sandwich w/Miracle Whip on it*.
This is outrageous. I’d like to lodge a formal complaint with the Appeals Board for this unjustified review.
Duly noted. We will take into consideration the region of the US you live in order to make a formal determination.
West coast=Safe, cuz the coalition of blacks out there are of a different kind (think skinny jeans, fro-hawks and lattes)
East coast=Fail… you cannot be an authentic east coaster and like either of mayo or MW.
Midwest=The blacks from the board are too nice to make a decision, your application is approved by default
South=Still under review…cuz you know how slow they move in the south.
Actually, New Yorkers love to eat heroes (subs for you non NYers) with meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. However, the cats making heroes at the hood deli know EXACTLY how much mayo to put on black folks heroes. The hood deli will NOT slather your hero in mayo. They understand that said behavior will get that hero thrown back at them. The hood deli guy knows how to put just the right amount to keep your bread from being dry.
That is all…
HA! In de face Mo-VSS, in de face!
I expect full reinstatement to the Black Community, a public apology, and written pardon for any and all Black Code violations. I retain the right to bring a Civil Suit at a later date.
LMFAO
Drop the civil suit and the apology will happen. LOL
co-sign. I even ask the people at McDonald’s, Wendy’s and BK to take the mayo off my sandwiches. Can’t eat that ish.
I always eighty-six the mayo too. It’s just vile. The same with ranch dressing.
I do the same. It just looks gross to me, especially when it mixes when the other condiments. Gawd forbid I’m really hungry and don’t realize until later they put mayo on my sammich….
I think this is culturally American… We some Mayonnaise eating fools where I’m from.
A sandwich just ain’t a sandwich…
Miracle whip all day!!! funny think is i didn’t realize there was difference between mayo and miracle whip until i was abt 16 lol. I though miracle whip was mayo #kanyeshrug
Miracle whip just uses egg whites, mayo uses both whites & yolks, and hellman’s uses the largest % of egg yolks to whites and is considered the gold standard of mayo. Outback uses hellman’s to make 90% of their sauces. This moment has been brought to you by my engineering background, the letter B, and the number 8.
lol thanks for lesson, bc i did not know!
I think i love you …. lmao
*hums sesame street….
? you!
what about Mayo vs. sandwich spread?
MIRACLE WHIP!!!!
I would actually carry a squeeze bottle of MW in my purse like some ppl carry hot sauce. Love it just that much.
This isn’t a battle. Grits wins!!!! The first time ate grits I was in college and no one believed me when I said I’d never had it. I didn’t even know what it was to my “regular black” friends made breakfast.
*till not to
Cream of Wheat & Kraft Mayo. ALL DAY!
Oddly enough, I can’t get with grits cuz they’re tooo “gritty.”…. And if I want pepper and cheese in a breakfast food, that’s what my eggs are for…
Cook them longer, & w/ milk
Or chicken broth.
Someone knows how its done! : )
I didn’t like grits until my friend made them this way. He changed my entire feelings on grits.
Don’t use instant
Buy the quick grits, use extra water, and cook them slowly for like 30 minutes.
BEST. GRITS. EVER.
Add butter and sugar instead
Negative on the sugar, salt and pepper FTW.
FLATLINE!!!!!
Malt O’ Meal shats on both of them.
Shot out to the Malt O’ Meal Plant in MN for the free samples during the plant tour. A brotha didn’t need to spend his breakfast per diem that week.
That is dopeness. Biggups to MN.
Cream of wheat looks like some sh*t you eat if you don’t have teeth. It looks like the slop they ate in Matrix. I could never….
“Cream of wheat looks like some sh*t you eat if you don’t have teeth. It looks like the slop they ate in Matrix. I could never”
LOLOL. this really made me laugh aloud
#Team Cream of Wheat
both!!!!
Eff grits & cream of wheat
***CORNMEAL PORRIDGE***
iDied.
polenta.
I actually made the gun sign with my fingers and went “praa!” lmao! Before I knew grits, cornmeal porridge was my heart <3
OMG. So did I LOL
BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*gives Kema’s comment all the thumbs in the world. lol.
I will raise you another one:
Sweet Grits (yuck!) vs. The-only-proper-way-to-eat-Grits aka with cheese and some fried water creature!!
I love my grits, but #teamcreamofwheat with honey, sugar, and butter(yeah, I’m ghetto like that)
Grits- hands down.
I doubt any of these battles will end anytime soon. Also speaking of HBCUs, the greatest homecoming on earth is this weekend. And I will be in attendance participating in all of the shenanigans w/the rest of my fellow alumni (and wanna be alumni). #GHOE
F a #GHOE. I remember considering going there, and they misspelled the name of my neighborhood horribly. I was so pissed that all of their correspondence ended up in the circular file.
RU 4 Life!
hey fellow aggie!!!!
that’s one debate that will never end…. who has the best hbcu homecoming!? and to that i say…… #GHOE!!!
There is no debate….#GHOE is the best HBCU homecoming…..thats why so many non-alumni attend. I too will be there this weekend to partake in as much foolishness and debauchery as I can fit into a weekend.
i’d bet my last dollar that WAY more non-alumni come to Howard’s homecoming than A&T and Howard’s aint what it used to be. Nobody cares about A&T.
#hbcushotsfired
oh panama, you must remember that Howard is in Washington, DC – THE CAPITAL of the US and essentially the World. A&T is in Greensboro…..NC. Surely there are more people living in DC than in NC as a whole. Also, Howard has several professional schools – dental, pharmacy, medical etc….and thus, has more alumni and more exposure. A&T has the undergrad college, a few grad programs and JUST RECENTLY some PhD programs. so yes, as an A&T alum, i can agree that more non-alumni come to Howard’s homecoming….BUT, for a medium sized school in NC with about only 10,000-12,000 students, our homecoming is VERY well attended. and amazing i might add. let me graduate from pharmacy school at my current WACK HBCU and i’ll take you with me to #GHOE and even you, Mr. Scrooge, will have a marvelous time
on a serious note, as a country kid who grew up in a predominantly white town/village (yeah it’s that small) i LOVED my HBCU….and not just because they pump Aggie Pride into the food at Williams Cafe. I loved my HBCU because i was given the opportunity to see INTELLIGENT black professionals (other than the members in my family) making differences in the world. it blew my mind….there were teachers the looked LIKE ME and did research for NASA and the Army….they were judges….and congressmen….astronauts….it was inspiring and uplifting. everyone should experience that at least once in their life.
ummmm what homecoming might this be? (ignorant member of team PWI, lol)
A&T’s homecoming and it really is the #GHOE
ohhhh I’ve actually experienced that…. it was…. *shivers*
#GHOE deez
greatest homecoming of eternity?
*ignorant canadian speaking. we ‘ont got those homecoming thingies…
North Carolina A&T University refers to their homecoming as the Greatest Homecoming On Earth. #GHOE
just hit that hastag on twitter and see all the delusional Aggies.
so close!! lol.
thanks peej.
Although I do love HBCU’s, I must make mention of my alma mater because this weekend is our 100 year anniversary of the Homecoming tradition…anywhere! Where did I go, you ask? Well, it’s a little school in middle America named Mizzou. So…while everyone is celebrating their homecoming, take a little time to thank that school named Mizzou (University of Missouri), because if it wasn’t for us…it wouldn’t exist!
Let me tell you…I used to date a chick from NC A&T. I got so damn tired of hearing about #GHOE. y’all go hard for your school…even if you’re wrong.
#spelhouse bitches
#GHOE!!!!!! Aggie Pride is Nationwide!!!! I was WAITING for someone to talk about the GREATEST HOMECOMING ON EARTH!!!
These battles will be going on for eternity because our community have too many people that are too ignorant to read and tell the generation that is taking over that these issues are unnecessary.
Lightskinned vs Darkskinned – We will always have this battle coming from a one-sided unsolicited comment about a certain shade of tan that us black people have.
HBCU vs PWI – Our people face different worlds when it comes to learning institutions. This battle never dies.
Northern vs Southern Blacks – This been going on since my grandmother’s days.
Uber-Christian Blacks vs Everyone Else – LMFAOOOOOOOO no need to go there. This battle has caused physical altercations
“Uber-Christian Blacks vs Everyone Else – LMFAOOOOOOOO no need to go there. This battle has caused physical altercations”
especially in prisons
the “elite” hbcu’s vs “regular” hbcu’s:
to a person that went to a PWI from outside looking in you think a hbcu is a hbcu, WRONG!! In my observation, some ppl from both HU’s, SpelHouse, FAMU, NC A&T tend to place their HBCU’s in a totally different category than other hbcu’s like Norfolk State, JCSU or bowie state(no shots to alum from those schools just using them as example)
Bougie blacks vs “regular” black:
There has always been a disconnect between the jack & jill, marthas vineyard vacationing blacks and “regular” hardworking black ppl. the jack&jill crowd tend to frown on black who might not come from families that had multiple generations of college graduates(Read “our kind of people”)
AKA’s vs DST’s:
sorry this will never be squashed lol
Hip-hop heads vs rap heads:
these battles usually start with statements like “lil wayne is better than jay-z” or “i rather listen to lil boosie than mos def”
the “elite” hbcu’s vs “regular” hbcu’s:
to a person that went to a PWI from outside looking in you think a hbcu is a hbcu, WRONG!! In my observation, some ppl from both HU’s, SpelHouse, FAMU, NC A&T tend to place their HBCU’s in a totally different category than other hbcu’s like Norfolk State, JCSU or bowie state(no shots to alum from those schools just using them as example)
As a graduate from one of those “elite” hbcu’s….We sure do. But I do add this….those CIAA folks know how to party. lol.
Boy oh boy…I don’t think I knew what a party was until my first CIAA experience.
Hmmm, I didn’t know FAMU was one of the “elite” schools – and I graduated from there. You just filled my head up. I’m sure it’ll be shot down when I go to this job interview today, though, lol. I got love for all HBCU’s (but FAMU’s still #1 in errythang – had to go there too, lol). Ain’t no party like a MEAC party!
Man, don’t get me started on the HBCU pride stuff. I’ve been screwed in 22 positions with sand paper by my HBCU alma mater. With the exception of one great independent academic advisor who helped me find research OFF campus, my HBCU experience was a sh*t show in terms of preparing me for a serious career in science. I think the people who maintain their HBCU pride have been fortunate enough not to be shaken by the inherent inexcusable dysfunctions of many of these places.
In terms of battle speak, I guess I’m a defector.
I feel the same way about the HBCU I attended I don’t mention it very often except to inform people how I cursed my way through college…meaning I had to curse out a lot of people to get sh*t done and GTFO of there. Trust me no HBCU arrogance here…
As someone who attended a PWI but always wondered what/how much I missed by not going to an HBCU, your revelation is disheartening.
I was able to glean both experiences as I went to a PWI but the HBCU in town was a 5min drive down the road. My social life was at the HBCU and my academics was at my PWI. I had more pictures in the HBCU yearbook my senior year than I did in my own school!
Hey, as an (unemployed) scientist, I feel your pain. Heck, that was one of the reasons I didn’t go to a HBCU. I wanted to pursue science as a career, and even the top notch HBCUs can’t compete with a middle-of-the-road PWI in terms of resources for science. Best believe I feel your pain!
Oh, and http://youtu.be/U47oMAXA6vM Upstream Redteam indeed.
Elite HBCU’er here.
Actually i went to a pretty good PWI for Grad School so I’ve seen them both up close and personal. I would not trade either experience, they were golden, but for me, there was no comparison in terms of the personal growth at my HBCU. If that annoys people, so be it. Living in Atlanta was also great for me. If that annoys some people, so be it. To each their own.
Having gone the same PWI for undergrad and law, I can say it was very enlightening. I got a Doctorate in liberal yts. Very much prepared me for my future. I miss what I didn’t get culturally at HBCUs but I can run mental circles around the liberal yts.
co-sign on the hip-hops heads v. rap heads thought
ppl need to educate themselves on old skool hip hop and hear real music. I don’t respect this new kind of stuff that so-called rappers are coming out w/. some of the new group of rappers are letting the record executives can them into a stale sound. I call this hip-pop or trash.
KRS-One really knew what he was talking about when he said rap is what I do; hip hop is what I live.
Bougie blacks vs “regular” black:
There has always been a disconnect between the jack & jill, marthas vineyard vacationing blacks and “regular” hardworking black ppl.
And that schism is growing with no end in sight. It’s really sad on both sides when you have folks who have 2 generations of college grads and/or family had money for 20 minutes extrapolating that as a “legacy”. Conversely, you have hood rats criticizing you for speaking correct English and demonizing your learning and secondary education as acting white, and getting upset when you choose to live in an neighborhood that doesn’t feature burglar bars.
Agreed on the HBCU’s. I went to a PWI (not saying that it was the best) and if you didn’t go to one of the “top” HBCU’s, you got clowned. I mean, we would reference the other ones as grades 13-16. For blacks at my school, if you went to one of the many HBCU’s in my state, you should have just kept that to yourself. So, yes, blacks that went to PWI’s also place HBCU’s on two different playing fields.
the “elite” hbcu’s vs “regular” hbcu’s: +1!
When I was in High School, it was all about Morehouse, Spellman, and Howard. Bill Cosby gave HBCU’s a big platform when he wore the sweatshirts on the Cosby Show and every rapper on Yo MTV Raps (yes I’m dating myself now) had on a HBCU hoodie.
With admissions down and funding tight, the HBCU’s are doing what PWI’s do.
“Bougie blacks vs “regular” black:
There has always been a disconnect between the jack & jill, marthas vineyard vacationing blacks and “regular” hardworking black ppl. the jack&jill crowd tend to frown on black who might not come from families that had multiple generations of college graduates(Read “our kind of people”)”
if i extended the list, this definitely would have made the cut
Or simply put old black money vs. new black money
We hate on one another regardless of the circumstances. When I first got into Howard and would randomly tell folks I’d meet around the DMV where I went to school I’d get the 0_o face. [see Gas Face, Third Bass]
It’s like we’re damned if we do and pretty much damned if we don’t… (._.)
-Women vs. Men in Child Support/Custody Issues
-Gender Roles vs. Feminism
-Pledged vs. Paper
-Hip Hop: Art Reflecting Life vs. Life Reflecting Art
I’ve seen each one of these almost start actual fist fights IRL.
ditto ALL of these
Pledged vs. Paper
So true….so true
-Hip Hop: Art Reflecting Life vs. Life Reflecting Art
I see you. *nods*
can you explain the pledged vs paper?
thanks
*patiently awaits the lesson….
I’ll provide you with this analogy.
You labored in college for x number of years to get your degree. When you talk with alums from your school, there’s a certain level of camaraderie because you share similar stories of what it was like to make it through school.
Now imagine you can now get the same degree that you toiled over for x years in 20 min. Describe for me the disconnect that would occur when sharing stories of your college years.
*patiently awaits response from the lady with the lip glossed lips…..
hmm.. i see.
i guess its like when some argue about the value of schooling (is it about the degree at the end of the experience…or the experience getting there).
*hopes that im right….
This is a great analogy!!!!
NOOOOOOO NOT MODERATION JAIL!!!! Give us free!!
Hmmm I’m not greek, but I think it’s basically that when you pledge an organization in undergrad you have to go through a physical pledge process, but if you pledge in grad school you do NOT (ie, you signed up/on through paperwork)
I never post, but I had to respond to this one. Just because someone pledged an organization undergrad doesn’t mean they took part in any “physical pledge.” Same goes for those that joined a fraternity or sorority through an alumnae/graduate chapter. Some of these people “pledged.” I know some undergraduate made greeks that are considered “paper” and some graduate made greeks that for a lack of better words “got down.”
welp, there you have it, like I said, I’m not greek, but it seems the greek folk above have a similar definition *shrugs*
I hear ya. I just wanted to add my two cents since I’m a member of a greek letter organization.
greeks vs non greeks?
cosign.
this was a big deal in undergrad. there was so much _______ animosity??? towards folks who wouldn’t pledge something… maybe because there were so few black people at the school to begin with, folks felt like we all really needed to bond through that?!
i dunno, but i know the “what are you?” followed by “myself” followed by “oh” was real in them halls.
sigh.
I was about to add that one…most non-greeks (myself included) do not understand the idea of pledging undying lifelong loyalty to a made up organization that calls itself greek….especially since the people in these organizations typically have never been to Greece and have no Greek ancestry. Plus there’s the inexplicable Greek behavior that excites people who are in these groups but just looks silly to those of us who are not.
A Few More Black Battles:
Big Booty VS. The Less Fortunate
Fist Pumpers VS. This is a New Age(Racism is Over)
Rhythm Nation VS. The Rhythm-less Nation
MILD SAUCE VS. Mambo Sauce
Northern Rap VS. The Dirty South
Skinny Jeans VS. Everyone
Dreads VS. Kinky Twists
The Hung(waves hand emphatically) VS. the NOT SO HUNG
Brothers that like DARK SKIN WOMEN VS. the LESS APPRECIATIVE(LIGHT SKIN)
The Hoochies VS. the SOUL Sisters
Weed Smokers VS. the Newports, Kool, etc. Crew
SHIRTS VS. BLOUSES
I like how you mentioned two of the least talked about HBCU’s…my boy goes to PV tho. Im out
BLOUSES win every time!!
LMFAOOOOOOOOO AT SHIRTS VS. BLOUSES
Blouses make great pancakes too. lol
Mild sauce all day!
LOL @ Big Booty vs. The Less Fortunate. My wife wasn’t blessed back there, so she gets tight whenever she sees a big butt. Also, she seems to think Queens is the Land of the Big Butts, especially since the booties are bigger than in her native Connecticut. (And for those who don’t know, yes there are plenty of Black people up there. They’re just forced into bantustans called Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford.
)
someone needs to make a regional butt ranking system. maybe that someone will be me
LOL seriously. I never thought about the regions until my wife pointed it out. There are plenty of boobs in the Nutmeg State, but not a lot of booty. Odd….
In the south, even white girls have big booties… and I do mean the tiny waist + ample cheeks combo… Must be all that fried catfish and cornbread.
” someone needs to make a regional butt ranking system. maybe that someone will be me”
You already know the South would sit on the competition and then fart. Other than that it would be interesting though lol
“LOL @ Big Booty vs. The Less Fortunate. ”
Ya’ll tryna have Mama Cheeks and I fightin’, doe?!
Brothers that like DARK SKIN WOMEN VS. the LESS APPRECIATIVE(LIGHT SKIN)
i know i should..but..what do you mean by this?
so many questions today!
There are some dudes that only like Light-skinned women. This is huge among American Negroes, as there are some dudes who will only mess with women who pass the paper bag test. (See this for an explanation of the test: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=brown+paper+bag+test ) There are others who despise women that light. Personally, I’m #TeamDarkSkin, esp. with the among of shade light-skinned women have thrown at me over the years.
i moreso meant the ‘less appreciative’ part.
i was curious if the original author was saying that light skinned women are less appreciative?
I really appreciate my dark skin sisters. I prefer a dark skin woman, but I can appreciate all beauty no matter the shade or color.
hey, what is mild sauce? That’s not a new DC thing is it?
It’s a Chicago thing, and thanks to Google I’ve learned it’s made up of BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and ketchup. Talking about mild sauce is making me want some Uncle Remus *drools incessantly*.
oh, so it’s similar to mumbo sauce in dc
Hell no it aint no mambo sauce. U can keep that damn mambo sauce. I MEAN THAT IN THE NICEST WAY POSSIBLE.
I didn’t realize that’s what the OP was referencing, but mild sauce is the “secret sauce” of Harold’s Chicken. I’m from Chicago, and it’s like crack.
Black Hispanics vs. the world
Unfortunately, Black Hispanics vs. Their Blackness seems to make a lot more sense. On two different occasions, I’ve witnessed Dominicans emphasize how “mixed” they were instead of Black.
On the latter occasion, a dude vehemently denied his Blackness. He talked about his sister being born with blonde hair, his Spanish blood, etc…all while he spoke with his thick lips, he breathed through his broad nose and he stood in his brown skin.
But please tell us about Afro-Panamanian Blacks…what proportion consists of descendants of British West Indians who relocated to build the Canal? And what proportion consists of the descendants of slaves from the ancien regime? Do these two groups mix often?
I’m glad you mentioned Dominicans. I don’t think there’s a group on the planet with more self-hatred than that bunch. I had a Dominican girlfriend in college who kept mentioning how Asian she looked and referring to how light her skin is. The funny part is that I met her at a Que party, and didn’t realize she was Latina until I called the next day. LOL
Most Latinos point to Dominicans as “the black ones”, but they all have the same issues. Every just uses Dominicans as the scapegoat
f*ckin Trujillo….http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Trujillo
Portion? Hm, I can’t give you a percentage, but the majority of us were already here because of the slave trade. My family did come over to work on the canal and ‘intermixed’ with the Native women. The two sides of the family aren’t really fond of each other even now though.
I think whether or not a Black Hispanic claims their blackness has a direct correlation to whether or not they grew around many other Black Hispanic people. My mom spent parts of childhood in Spanish Harlem with those ever media elusive black Puerto Ricans who loved the fact that they were both black and Hispanic.
Wow. Thanks for sharing your story and your perspective.
Agreed. I’m a bilingual elementary teacher, and when Blacks and Latinos ask whether I’m Dominican I always think, “What dominicanas do you know running around with afros?”
Not everything’s good in moderation! My comment is stuck so I’ll paraphrase: unfortunately, many Black Hispanics seem to be at war with their own Blackness.
Almost forgot
Who is the Greatest: Prince vs. Michael
That’s a good one! While I appreciate Prince’s guitar playing and assless pants, I gotta go with Michael.
Good one, folk…
Much love for MJ, but I gotta go with the Purple One.
What? I mean maybe if this was 80s Prince vs 80s MJ it would be a discussion. But comparing their entire careers? Prince hasn’t dropped a great track in a long, long time though. Michael had great, great songs and albums throughout his entire career.
…and so it begins….
“Butterflies” and “Call My Name” came out in ’02 and ’04 respectively and both were the last notable songs from each artist. Alive or dead neither guy has exactly been putting out hot sh*t.
I’ll just say, I almost got in a fight… On the subway… WITH my homegirl.. about whether or not Prince is “sweet..”
Who’s bad?
I don’t know who is “better” but I like Mr. Rogers Nelson more. Honestly, comparing the two doesn’t make sense. MJ and Prince weren’t the same animal.
I’ll say this… in terms of catalogs they kinda are the same animal because both their song title lists are RIDICULOUS and they were both musical geniuses.
That is such a good one!
And for me it really depends on the dewiness in the air…
Today I think Prince is the GOAT. 
How could you leave pork vs. anti-pork off the list?
SMH.
This one doesn’t seem like much of a battle to me, but maybe I’ve only been around a few skirmishes…
…I guess it would also help if the anti-pork people who came at me, weren’t also chain smokers. You aren’t going to tell me what’s bad for my health while smoking on a Newport.
Arguably, it’s just a facet of Christian vs. “Awakened” religious everybody else. The latter may not go to mosque, read the Q’ran, or pray every day, but they faithfully abstain from pork and everything that has touched it, and they will let you know…always.
Arguably, it’s just a facet of Christian vs. “Awakened” religious everybody else.
Here in Philly even a lot of the Christians, like my brother who’s a preacher, don’t mess with swine.
REALLY?
Another argument that has caused physical altercation
because the anti-pork people switch back to the pork team when noone’s looking
Bacon has been deemed “the gateway drug”.
Eeeewwww!!!! Team #NoPorkonmyfork ALL DAY!!!!
Black folks who are married with kids vs. Non-M**F**in factors
Black folks who play spades vs. ‘n*gga are you GAY???’
Black Greeks vs. GDIs vs. negros in white frat/soror (i.e. Non-M**F**in factors)
“Black Greeks vs. GDIs vs. negros in white frat/soror (i.e. Non-M**F**in factors)”
yea i could never rock with black dudes that joined white frats, don’t they know they were lynching clubs and sophisticated college educated KKK?? smmfh
*sucking my teeth* at #1. Yeaaaah, well this non-married non-reproducing non-factor is largely responsible for shaping the spawn of the MWK crowd into useful citizens, assuming said spawn are good enough to get into our undergrad program.
Have you ever watched BBWives Miami? Cuz that’s definitely where that came from. LOL
The fact that I don’t really like playing spades has gotten my black card revoked. Dah well, can’t win ‘em all…
Sigh…what was worse is that in my freshman year of college, a few of the Black kids taught all of the White and Asian kids how to play. The net result was my shiny White roommate and an Indian chick kicking my natural tail in Spades.
Sigh…where do I drop off this card again?
Your Black Card? Just give that to Mo-VSS, her committee will rule on your Black Status on a date to be schedule. Word of advice, stay away from Mayo and Miracle Whip in the meantime.
Yeah, his is firmly revoked. White and ASIAN roommates could play and beat you…and you admit freely to this? Definitely not characteristice of the black race.
In exchange for your black card, we’ll give you an honorary pass into he land of cablasian or where ever else mythical black folks live
*lmao*
Shoot, at least you know what Spades even is! Unless, somebody finds the equivalent for a card game I played growing up, I still to this day, have no clue what Spades even is… and how it is actually played…
But I have a ready-made excuse for the Black Card Revoking squad.
Bid Whist is close to spades. And just as cutthroat.
Does anybody play Bid Whist anymore?
My cousins an’nem. I’m still loyal to Spades, doe. They stay tryin’ to convert me. I ain’t havin’ it. (Bebe’s Kids chorus: She ain’t havin’ it!)
If you like Spades, you’ll love Bid Whist. Come to the grown folks table.
Bid Whist reminds me of little old ladies. Isnt that their game of choice? Besides Bingo of course.
Yup, that’s exactly what they say. Nawl son, father, holy spirit.
Bid Whist doesn’t have as much enthusiasm as Spades. I’ve witnessed.
All I need is space and opportunity (and 3 other people who actually know how to play)
+1
#teambidwhist
Spades is like Bid Whist Junior
” Black folks who are married with kids vs. Non-M**F**in factors”
Dayum….fightin words much? I mean, I could’ve understood black folks who are married with kids vs. Black folks with kids out of wedlock. Cause honestly they’re disproportionately contributing to the ratchedness of the race. But to go at the folk who are bein responsible and not having kids that they aren’t prepared to raise to the best of their abilities? Doesn’t sound very productive to me #shruglife
Lemme get this off my chest….
I went to college w/ that promoter. He is a disingenuous opportunistic @zzwipe that can go play in traffic. Homey does NOT like natural hair-not if it’s a natural black texture. He’s one of this dudes who bellyache about weaves as a more acceptable way to vocalize his disdain for black hair. Much safer to do that than pull an Isaiah mustafa.
“Homey does NOT like natural hair-not if it’s a natural black texture”
LMAO flashbacks of Coming to America Let your soullll glo…. lol
I used to date a guy just like that. “I love natural hair” was code language for “I hate the type of hair that ‘needs’ to be relaxed.” This same ninja said, right in front of his kinky-haired daughter “I wish her hair was more like that so it would be easier to take care of” referring to a doll she was playing with that had shiny curly locks.
Is the question how to mess up your child’s self-esteem and make her develop a complex later in life?
That ninja was unreal. He even told me, all dismayed, that he noticed his daughter started pointing at cute little blonde girls in ads, saying “that’s me, that’s me!” Stuff like that started surfacing a while after we started dating. He seemed to care about her a lot, but dude was just too basic. I assume that after I switched it up on him and went from shiny long twists to an Afro puff, he didn’t mind the break up.
sigh….gets popcorn….thinks about Spike Lee School Daze Jiggaboo Wannabee Good and Bad Hair debate…
I am dark skin, my mom and others are lighter than me but guess what Ninja we STILL BLACK and
-All HBCU students/graduates aren’t condescending..can we just be happy that regardless if you went to PWI or HBCU that we ARE on #teamreadingblackfolks— VSB AND VSS
-I have been on #teamrealaxer, I am also on #teamnaturalhair, but I straighten it, I also wear it out in my curly fro and wear weaves when I want to to me it’s STYLING PREFERENCE! Not some fight the power ish
“to me it’s STYLING PREFERENCE! Not some fight the power ish”
My exact sentiments…I’m natural as well but I keep a weave in for protective styling until I achieve my desired length.
I’ve mellowed out a lot since my militant days. However, I do still ave a bit of a mean streak, I suppose, when I express no patience or empathy for sistas who can’t hang because they don’t want to get their hair wet. A few straightened sistas can and do hang, so they’re good.
Agreed- with all this. I’ve been on #teamrelaxer and #teamnatural hair, and I switch teams whenever I feel like it, LOL. I don’t put PWI people down because they didn’t go to an HBCU, I just like to represent (rattler strike). Hell, I graduated from both so I represent both teams there too! *chop chop
Rattler strike? Watch this knight sword chop that snake in half baby girl!
Besides, HBCUs are good for my football team because it’s a guaranteed win. Just sit back and watch the smackdown get laid. 
“I’ve been on #teamrelaxer and #teamnatural hair, and I switch teams whenever I feel like it, LOL.”
AMEN.
And we will, STRIKE, STRIKE, and STRIKE again!
can we just be happy that regardless if you went to PWI or HBCU that we ARE on #teamreadingblackfolks
nope
Old school vs. new school
“real movies” and/or “real plays” vs. Blackbuster films and Hood azz ‘gospel’ stage plays
The white mans movies and/or plays vs. The fine works of Tyler Perry and/or any starring Vivica A Fox
Black people vs. n*ggaz
“Black people vs. n*ggaz”
I was just thinking about that Chris Rock show a few days ago.
Do you know how hard it is being light skinned today? I have chicks just grill me for no reason. I use to work in sales and if there was a black couple, 9 times out of 10, the wife would give me the cold shoulder and the husband would be too afraid to talk for fear of what the wife might say. As soon as I sent a different associate it was all good! Do you know how much money that cost me? Oh and the jokes are brutal. My sisters eat me alive when I come home saying I’m barely darker than the wall! Do you know how hard it is for me to make friends? Chicks have to know me for a minute before I get cool wit the circle…not to mention I bruise easy and I can never find the right shade of makeup!
So to all my brown and dark skinned sistas…can we please make peace?
I’ll make peace for my own sake, even thought I never had a problem with the light skints. I hope by making peace with you I can finally get all these afrocentric ninjas off my back. Do you know how hard it is to be dark-skinned WITH dreads? Even man I meet is a black militant who tells me how much they hate white people, even the white ones. All the other dark skinned ladies look at me like I’m a representative fot the struggle. I don’t like spoken word nor do I rock ankhs. Leave me alone! I just wanna booty dance and read books on the struggle of African peoples.
“Even man I meet is a black militant who tells me how much they hate white people, even the white ones.”
Huh?
lol, *Every* man I meet is a black militant who tells me how much they hate white people, even the white ones.
This made me lmao
“Even man I meet is a black militant who tells me how much they hate white people, even the white ones.”
Yes… I’ve dated white men that had really bad things to say about white women. I guess that is done to let me know how down he is for the cause (i.e. black booty)
Peace has always been made in my book- it actually saddens me that people are still trippin like this
Peace be unto you.
But I have call BS on the make-up shades. All those shades in all those brands- you got to have 10 times more to choose from LOL
this makes me sad.
on behalf of United Colours of Sistahood… i give you hugs.
“Do you know how hard it is being light skinned today? I have chicks just grill me for no reason.”…..”Do you know how hard it is for me to make friends?”
LOL! This is a little overboard to me. No disrespect, but there are plenty of other reasons women might not be feeling you other than the fact that you have light skin.
No disrespect, but there are plenty of other reasons women might not be feeling you other than the fact that you have light skin
LMAO.
That’s real talk CNotes…it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy if you already have in mind that people feel some kinda way about you because you’re light-skinned. You may not realize it, but that comes through in your behavior, and if a chick picks up on it, she’ll be annoyed (at the least) that you assume she envies you. I’m dark, and I’ve had several experiences where a light-skinned girl was obviously uncomfortable around me- avoiding eye contact, sizing me up on the low, etc- before even speaking to me, and while I started off feeling friendly toward her, those feelings turned into “Seriously nicca? Lol look at me…I am NOT worried about you. The nerve!” Then I write her off as ignorant. Fair on my part? Maybe, maybe not. But the point is, perception is a mofo, and people pick up on even the slightest cues, so be careful.
I mean… +1
Can I say that this comment “LOL! This is a little overboard to me. No disrespect, but there are plenty of other reasons women might not be feeling you other than the fact that you have light skin.” wins an award for the most real and most funny of the day.
And indeed, no disrepect to the OP (original poster) I just thought it was a bit dramatic as well. LOL
here is one important one:
Booker T vs W.E.B. DuBois vs Marcus Garvey:
Many ppl tend to favor W.E.B., view Booker T as uncle tom and Marcus Garvey as crazy/too extreme. I think there were all right and all had flaws as well. if only they could have collaborated smh. But if i had to pick one it would probably be Booker T, majority of freed blacks were all farmers and craftsmen(welders, carpenters, blacksmith, etc), had his plan worked we would have strong hold on farming and craftsmen industries today. unfortunately we don’t and don’t have any industries of our own.
I think we would have had more Thriving businesses, but a lot of black people shied away from the trades because too much success brought negative attention from racist whites. Lynching was the primary tool (seconded by rape) used for economic intimidation. Black businesses & landowners were under constant threat of vandalism, seizure, violence etc
****unfortunately we don’t and don’t have any industries of our own.****
At least not any that we can be proud of…
…I mean who really wants to be the undisputed champions of “Reality TV”?
” At least not any that we can be proud of…
…I mean who really wants to be the undisputed champions of “Reality TV”?”
haha, good one! I thought you were gonna say rap or professional sports, but we really don’t have those industries either. We’re just the most outstanding employees in those industries…
Speaking of perm vs. natural, this past Monday THE Dudley of Dudley hair products, creamy crack king pen, interrupted me while I was eating Popeye’s at the Atlanta airport to say “hi.” He’s lucky I was too distracted by my delicious chicken to regale him with tales of past chemical burns. I acted like I wasn’t familiar with his product…he went on to articulate that he was in Chris Rock’s “Good Hair.” I cheerily told him I was familiar with the plot, but ad not seen the movie. If that ninja said anything about giving his relaxer a try, I would have straight up thrown a chicken bone at him.
Your story just reminded me of another epic battle:
Church’s vs. Popeyes vs. Bojangles
Popeye’s vs. Bojangles I can understand. You need an iron stomach to eat Church’s.
White Castle vs. Krystal/ White Castle indifference
Dry rub vs. BBQ sauce
Dry Rub!! real bbq does not use sauce except maybe for dipping
Blasphemy! People spend hours toiling over magical special recipe BBQ sauces.
I kid, kind of…I’m from St. Louis, land of BBQ-floating-in-a-bowl-of-sauce. I can appreciate a tender tasty dry rub, but I also like sauce.
Yeah people in the Midwest do BBQ completely different than folks in Texas…any where you go here you have to request sauce it is not the standard…but I like to dip my BBQ in sauce not receive it pre sauced.
“People spend hours toiling over magical special recipe BBQ sauces.”
My uncle is FAMOUS for his sauce. lol
I’m from KC, where we also drown BBQ in sauce. That dry rub mess is for the birds.
Hey there fellow Missourian!
I had St Louis BBQ and their sauce tends to be too sweet for me. I’m a texas BBQ girl myself
I need me some sauce..fcuk a dry rub
Gimme dat SAWSE! Fcuk dry rub
Good point…Church’s chicken is the ‘debil…
(Hell, White Castle might be the ‘debil too, but d@mnit if it didn’t come in handy around 3am when everything else in the Midwest was/is closed)
All bbq is awesome! Dry-rub, vinegar, ketchup-based, and mustard-based all taste good.
Cosign….
Spoken like a man who knows what he’s talking about.
I will add this battle:
People who think bbqing involves hot dogs and hamburgers vs. people who know better.
Bless their hearts.
People who think bbqing involves hot dogs and hamburgers vs. people who know better.
Word.Life.
Don’t invite me to your pocket sized garden in some 60 degree weather talking about “you’re having a BBQ” and serve me with some questionable unnamed meat in questionable casing (i.e hot dogs)… Putting food on the grill does NOT a barbecue make!!! (And that is to you Northern folks)…
Where is the brisket (Texas style) at?
Mane WHAT!! If one more of these people insist that sauce goes on the side or you can cook a real piece of meat in 4 minutes I’ma scream. Sauce on the side?? What’s that, you mean the EXTRA sauce on the side right? Krystal is murking white castle and Churches be RIGHT on nucca pockets when times is hard. Where else can you get 15 pieces of chicken for $6.99??
ooh NC vinegar based pulled pork BBQ vs. tomato based BBQ
Do I have the visual right? You’re sitting in a restaurant eating food and he brings in jars of Dudleysto hawk ? O_o
There is one black people battle that was decided: FB vs MySpace
i guess its twitter vs facebook now
Or Blackplanet vs. Facebook
Wait a minute… blackplanet still exists?
i think facebook is going to win that one
hence the “has been decided”. Who is still on myspace? Like seriously?
Even Myspace quit Myspace.
Miss Jessie’s vs Kinky Curly
Watching shows in the internet vs watching shows on TV
IPhone vs Droid vs HTC
Heels vs flats
BTW…outside of the first one, none of these are “black only” issues. Oh well…issues nonetheless
I try not to involve myself w/phone fanatics, but I gotta show my love for #TeamAndroid. Idc if Google is Big Brother/the devil *lol*.
#teamiphone that is all
this battle will never die, steve jobs couldn’t even take it with him (too soon???)
this cracks me up: http://youtu.be/FL7yD-0pqZg
“It f@cking prints money”
“I don’t care”
lord. this iphone vs bb vs android…
why do we rep for companies that they dont really care about us? (*MJ voice)
iHaveNoClue why I’d rep for a company that doesn’t care about me.
You forgot that all blacks aren’t Democrats. I know a lot of blacks who are undercover Republicans and don’t want to flat out say they are Republican. The beauty of living in America is we can choose what political party we want to affiliate with. In my opinion, blacks assume other blacks are Democrats.
considering both parties history i find it laughable and appalling when black ppl claim and/or “ride or die” for either(mainly democrats). most ppl don’t pay attention or remember history, democrats(dixie-crats) were anti-civil rights and pro-segregation held up integration in 1950s and 60s. so many of blk ppl have parents and grandparents whose civil rights were withheld by same party they now ride or die for today.
I’m firm believer blk ppl should be independent and/or have our own party
What would having our own party accomplish?
Fried bologna sandwiches vs. Vienna sausages vs. Spam vs. any other luncheon meat
How about neither one of those.
LOL. my sentiments exactly.
Exactly.
The fried bologna is cool but I can’t get with the rest of that.
Proper English speakers vs Ebonics speakers/ broken english
Me I dey speak pidgin o…….Took a small break to rep for Naija.
Break over….on to being worldly and intelligent and all that jazz.
For my Chicagoans, West Side ninjas vs South Side ninjas. Us North Siders don’t count, no one takes us seriously *lol*.
No they don’t. Especially if ur in the north suburbs. I’m a non-factor. Even to my south side fam.
Them dayum wessside ninjas, doe…
A whole different breed of crazy chile.
Yes, lawd.
I actually think this is a pretty comprehensive list!!! you certainly have the major ones covered.
Thanks (or curses) to my Gemini-ness for allowing me to be able to argue both sides of all of these battles. However in an attempt not to start a blog war I will simply state #teamcreamycrack #teamSouth and #teamHBCU that is all!
oh and maybe i could add (sorry for any repeats)
white meat chicken vs. dark meat chicken
red koolaid vs red pop
soda vs. pop
south vs. dirty south
Are VA and MD south or north
VA & MD are southern. Just saved by the influx of northerners lol
#teampop all day!
+1 on #teampop
+2 but I assimilate occasionally, lol
Are VA and MD south or north?
They are south. I went to school DOWN SOUTH. I relocated and now live DOWN SOUTH. I live in NORTHERN Virginia but that ish is still DOWN SOUTH! And I’m sorry, but you don’t get much more DOWN SOUTH than Prince George’s County Maryland. If you blind folded me and dropped me off in Oxon Hill without telling me where I was, I would swear I was in North Carolina lol! I’m not hating in the least bit. We moved down here because that’s what I wanted for our son. That southern influence is alright with me.
So I’m lying when I tell everyone that Northern VA and MD are North/East Coast ish?? Dang it…
Just a little
Northern VA and MD are their own little area simply b/c it’s a transient place. People come here from everywhere and it is way more diverse here than in the south. IMO.
As a resident of Northern VA, I must adamantly state that we are not the south. At all. We do not claim the South. Northern Virginia actually separated from the rest of Virginia around the same time West Virginia did. Little known Black History fact.
Physically, VA and MD are the south (below the mason dixon line). However, culturally, I agree with you on this.
Yeah, I’m callin BS on Northern VA and MD being Southern. I lived down south most of my life. Lived in Philly, PG County Maryland, DC, and visit New York frequently. MD and Northern VA are their own animal with Northern and Southern qualities, but you certainly can’t call them Southern. That’s why I wanna get back up there. That area is like NorthEast lite. I’d rather that than the extraness of the pure North. That area is DEFINITELY not the south tho. Only compromise I’ll make on that claim is to say that it’s neither. It’s the Mid-Atlantic.
I don’t see these battles ending anytime soon. Typically these arguments begin due to someones “better than” attitude. For example someone who thinks they are better due to their geographical location (which is ridiculous lol), persons who think they are better because of their societal praised skin color, or the super christian person who acts as if they’ve never done anything wrong in life and tells us that we are all going to hell because we’ve sinners. Its funny to me how these super christian people are usually never very loving or kind to their fellow man (odd since the christian motto is to strive to be Christ-like……or somethin like that) And btw I would pay to see that natural vs.relaxed/weave chicks war but if that is not available then I will take the uber christian vs. everybody else and can i also have a duplicate of that little girls hair puff for myself as well (I love me some puffs).
And btw I would pay to see that natural vs.relaxed/weave chicks war
just go to worldstarhiphop. there’s like 10 of them posted everyday
inspired by lotusflower11
black “ghetto” names vs. white “proper” names
(chiquetta, LaSylvia, taiqawn, vonterious vs. brittany, ashley, robert, charles)
Also, proper white names with jacked up spellings. Ashlii, Ja’Nett, Kathryyn, I’m talking to you
DId anyone mention Tyler Perry Fans vs other folks
nah. i figured we have 26,000 other posts dealing with that
Team NoBooty Vs Team Booty
..I’m part of the black women who don’ t have a Put A Drank on it Booty…It’s hard out here being a sista who’s not “thick” …I’m not a pancake, but don’t have a KimKJloBeyonceAlicia thighs/booty…but hey My Milkshake bring all the boys to yard
If your milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, then how is it hard being non-thick?
You gotta Kevin Durant booty… no thickness but somehow still effective night after night.
That shit is clever, you mind if I jack this?
I will take this as well…..
East Coast vs. West Coast
Brooklyn Vs. the world
i don’t know if east coast vs west coast is a real battle anymore, especially since, outside of cali, no black people actually live out west
<—-Black person who lives out west, not in Cali
*ehem* as a Brooklynite I would say I won’t be able to watch that battle cause I’d probably be in it.
But yes, Brooklyn can take on the world..and we’d win too.
Beyonce IS pregnant vs. Beyonce is NOT pregnant (she is wearing collapsibles)
beyonce lovers vs beyonce haters
I’m sure this fight would bring on the REAL rapture.
^^^^ +1
After reading some of the thoughts here, I was proud of y’all and all but I was also annoyed.
Why be annoyed? These fruitless wars we esoterically wage socially.
I’m a soldier in a war that for all intents & purposes, I thought was long forgotten.
Let me be great without having to fight my most loved ones to do so!
As if life ain’t hard enough? Wars, starvation, homeless, drug addiction, health issues, blah blah blah….point is, there is so much more important issues than how we feel.
But chu don’t hear me doe! I don’t know what to do anyway…kill the tyrants, depose the incumbent political malingerers, stabilize things beyond free market bull…impose an understandable minimum of necessity as per ….. I just want things to half way work.
Sure somebody must suffer but as many people that do suffer ain’t necessary. What ever y’all know what the freak I’m saying…minimize the pain.
Bentleys vs. Maybachs vs. Phantoms – the most pointless argument ever.
vs. Chrysler 300′s (the hood Bentley)
Has Bentley recently released a more affordable, more accessible model? I have seen at least four Bentleys on the road in the past couple of weeks and I usually see none.
Nope, these battles wont be ending anytime soon. Simply put: the Willie Lynch letter is alive and well!
Smh.
Give me the uber-Christians vs everybody else. Uber Christians will cuss & murder & then say “in Jesus name” without batting an eye. I would also pay to see #naturalhair vs permed/weaved…that fight could interesting with all that hair flying around.
Degree blacks vs non degree blacks. Maybe not a fight yet but the amount of shade thrown to brothers & sisters that didn’t go to a 4 year college isn’t helping.
I like this thread. I’m a Dark-skinned Secular New Yorker who attended a PWI.
I think this makes me the Anti-Christ ™ in 68 counties throughout the South, including 34 in Mississippi alone.
Nods head knowingly.
The hair thing is definitely going to be the battle of this decade…I think it is healthy to hear the natural crowd stand up for themselves and not hid in silence though. Years of nappy-headed-need-a-perm crazy nonsense has been sickening. Even some of my high school aged girls are embracing the kinks and that was unheard of when I was in high school. Don’t you dare try and tell them that they “need” a perm. They’ll tell you that perming is a choice not a necessity and that they’re fine with their beautiful hair. One of my girls told another “It’s healthy, it’s pretty and I know how to manage it. So do you and I’ll do me.” It was a proud moment to hear that. For all the issues that I have with this generation, they have their natural hair population like no other.
I’d love to see BET capitalize on this in a reality make over show called “Gone Natural” where some weavy/creamy crack chicks decide to try natural and discuss whether or not they want to keep it after. Now that would be some relevant television!
I’d love to see BET capitalize on this in a reality make over show called “Gone Natural” where some weavy/creamy crack chicks decide to try natural and discuss whether or not they want to keep it after. Now that would be some relevant television!
While that’s an excellent idea, I’m sure BET will alienate a big chunk of their advertising base by doing so… which is sad but life.
HBCU vs PWI
I’ll add African American College Students vs. the Townies
I still flashback to the scene from School Daze when Samuel Jackson told Dap (Lawrence Fishborne) “Ya’ll college boys come around here and take up all the jobs” Have you ever gone to a party / club off campus and see the looks dudes / women give you?
“I’ll add African American College Students vs. the Townies”
This is true at PWI’s and HBCU’s. The dudes at the barbershop would go out of their way to prove the college student’s in Charleston were soft or weak.
There were some ugly scenes in Blacksburg behind that battle.
I’ll add as a subset for the Va Tech folks, the football team vs. all frats. I miss my two visits a year to campus….those were the days.
My sisters used to tell me that it was the football team vs. the Omegas at S. Carolina. It’s a beef so old that they don’t even know why it’s there anymore.
Okay… clearly we know each other. You need to hit me on G-Chat or something. I’m not gonna ask you your gov’t name on here, but hell we were there at the same time. I’m pretty sure I already know it. I knew all of y’all from the early to mid 90′s.
Also, can you think of any other battles that should have made the cut?
1. Those who have buried the “n-word” vs. those who say “ninja ninja ninja” every chance they get.
2. Underground hip-hop vs. mainstream- The often pretentious underground gurus who can name random unheard of rappers and producers at the drop of a hat and claim their superiority while cringing when they hear an 18 year-old say Lil’ Wayne is the GOAT vs. those who believe if the artist was hot, he/she would be mainstream.
3. Long hair vs. short hair- for men. Many people still don’t believe in locs and think they’re dirty and/or unprofessional (all the hair drama isn’t from the ladies you know).
4. Tupac vs. Biggie
I cosign your list!!!!!!!!!!
LOL @ that pic and caption. Perfection.
Sigh. Speaking discounts on dumb shat, ya’ll saw that plugger offering iPhone users a discount after Steve Jobs passed? -_________- iQuitEarth.
“Lastly (and most importantly), which of these wars would you spend $59.95 to watch on PPV?”
Bougie vs. Hood (all of us who can code-switch can invest and watch)
o_O
“Lastly (and most importantly), which of these wars would you spend $59.95 to watch on PPV?”
Bougie vs. Hood (all of us who can code-switch can invest and watch)
o_O
*high five* I’d pay to watch this too.
If you believe in the Social Identity Theory, which I do, then no these battles will never end. The theory is that individual self-esteem is closely linked to group membership, and people will go to bat for their own groups while denigrating/vilifying others as a way of promoting both their group and their own positive self-concept. In many cases this is relatively mild and harmless, like people from rival schools good-naturedly hating on each other, but with more serious matters it can get ugly. My solution would be to start with kids and raise them to value teamwork over competition (because that’s what this all boils down to- competition) but then again, that is so not the world we live in. Gotta be able to compete if you want the finer things. Plus self-preservation is just human nature. So idk.
Oh, and the uber-Christian vs everyone else would be fun to watch. Northern vs Southern is in 2nd.
****The theory is that individual self-esteem is closely linked to group membership, and people will go to bat for their own groups while denigrating/vilifying others as a way of promoting both their group and their own positive self-concept.****
I have especially seen this in hair battles (I mentioned it up above) – wasn’t aware that it had an actual name. Things for the knowledge. *Loads Social Identity Theory into mental Rolodex*
Happy to contribute to the rolodex
I love seeing your posts again! Go ahead!
Aw, thanks girl! Work has been kicking my arse but every once in a while I can stop in and throw in my couple cents. Its good to know they mean something.
“The theory is that individual self-esteem is closely linked to group membership, and people will go to bat for their own groups while denigrating/vilifying others as a way of promoting both their group and their own positive self-concept.” And will vilify those that should belong to the group but since they don’t act like what is expected from group members, are pushed out of the group.
Thanks for posting this.
My pleasure
And yeah, what you described is also part of the theory too…if you’re in a certain group but fail to behave as expected by the other members, you too are threatening.
Texas Pete Hot Sauce vs. everything else
i never knew what Texas Pete was until i moved south… my friends look at me crazy when i tell them i only stock Crystal in the house! do they even sell TP in the “north”?
Yes. I’m partial to Frank’s Red Hot myself.
HBCU vs PWI
A battle that’ll be even more contentious in the next couple of weeks, as hundreds of universities around the country will hold their homecomings, giving HBCU alums their yearly opportunity to be condescending f*cks and annoy the ever living sh*t out of everyone around them. Btw, HBCU brethren, you can continue to try, but you’re just not going to ever succeed at making me feel bad that I didn’t do undergrad at Cheney or Prairie View A&M. I appreciate the effort, though.
I’m happy that the HBCU crowd loves their school so much, but I wouldn’t trade my PWI experience for the world. I went to one if the top athletic and academic schools in the country, so really, no one is touching us. So can someone pass the memo to the HBCU alum that I’m not “jealous” of their experience and don’t have an interest in how hype their school was?
“So can someone pass the memo to the HBCU alum that I’m not “jealous” of their experience and don’t have an interest in how hype their school was?”
You can send out that memo. We just won’t believe you.
lol, I’m hype about my school with my fellow alum and if anything i engage in the battle with other sports schools like Ohio State (bleeeh). I rarely engage in the HBCU vs PWI fight. But if one more tells me that I can’t “survive” in the real world b/c i didn’t go to a HBCU, I’m going to scream.
****You can send out that memo. We just won’t believe you.****
R O T F L
down there with you, dying…
I know some people who will straight up say “No they’re ugly b/c they’re dark” or will see two people from a distance and be like “Hey, who is the lightskinned one?” without even seeing the face…I’ve once overheard an ex-girlfriends mom say to another family member when describing “he dark skin, but he cute” and she was my complexion just color struck smh
For my HBCU folks: the football team vs. the frats.
How many times was the house party broken up over a fight between a football player and a (insert org. here). It was always interesting to see how the members of (insert org. here) would react when the fight was between their org. and the football team.
This also happen(ed)(s) at non-HBCUs.
It seems to be very obvious to me that the white man has succeeded in more ways than a million to hold us back. Blacks overall; African natives, African Americans, Afro Carribean, etc etc, have ALL been oppressed by our white counterparts, and yet we continue to find a fight amongst each other of who’s better. According to the white man and history, we will never be better than them. Let’s shift this energy towards equality, empowerment, access, better health and beyond.
We are good for keeping something going…because WE did not divide us.
Also, can you think of any other battles that should have made the cut?
The Country Negro vs. City Negro (I think this may be a issue just among Midwest and West Coast Black folks)
middle class Blacks vs. working class Blacks (AKA Black folks in Black neighborhoods vs. Black folks in the suburbs)
the “get a good job & don’t rock the boat negro” vs. the “get educated and help my people negro”
“street knowledge” vs. “book knowledge” (sorry to break it to the thugs but you need to read. and same the same to you with the super degree, you need some street knowledge. they both have their point of diminishing returns)
“street knowledge” vs. “book knowledge” (sorry to break it to the thugs but you need to read. and same the same to you with the super degree, you need some street knowledge. they both have their point of diminishing returns)
*facebook likes this.
What about black folks that live in all/majority black suburbs?
I will try to read through these comments to see if someone already mentioned this, but the only options for the party discount were if you had “natural”, as in no-permed hair? What about hair that grows from your own roots that is permed, but is not a weave or wig? No credit given for that? That’s at least semi-natural, right?
I would like to attend the Natural Vs Unnatural hair battle. One can only imagine the rage of a woman who has just had her $250 an oz Indique Virgin Indian Remy ripped from her head. Blood will spill. Permed hair women will be chasing afro’s and bantu knots with jar’s of fabulaxer, using hot combs as nunchucks, kinky haired women will turn fire hoses on fresh conks, Al Sharpton just sits there yelling “I wish a bit*h would, swear to God” wielding a rat tail comb as his weapon of choice …I given this much thought, and it amuses me.
I’d also like to add
BET Vs Every Negro With A Blog
Michael Eric Dyson Vs Coherence
And Tyler Perry Vs Spike Lee in a slap box match to the death!
Dark skin Vivian Banks Vs Light skin Vivian Banks
*play’s Trina’s ” Let Dem Ho3s Fight*
Dark skin Vivian Banks Vs Light skin Vivian Banks
THERE SHOULD ONLY BE ONE.
THE ORIGINAL
(all caps necessary)
@Misty Knight
“Dark skin Vivian Banks Vs Light skin Vivian Banks”
Dark skin Vivian Banks >>>>
Dark skinned vivian and also want to add
Good Times: James pre-death vs james post death
Nike vs Reebok vs Addidas
McDonalds vs Burger King
The athletes vs. non-athletes vs. chicks that love chicks
When the female population is low on campus all h3ll breaks loose to secure desirable partners to get horizontal with.
There’s no such thing as a lightskinned black person. It’s either you are black either you are not. Beyonce isn’t a black person. Alicia Keys either. Their culture might be afro/black american but themselves aren’t black. I am always very sad to be told that those women are an exemple of black beauty ,because well no they are not. They are an exemple of mixed race beauty ! And I think it’s a pity and really bad for black little girls to be given the likes of beyonce and alicia keys as exemples of black beauty. It’s bad for their psyche and confidence plus it’s plain…stupid . I mean would anybody say Beyonce or Alicia Keys are good exemple of white beauty ? No I don’t think . So why on earth should they be a good exemple of black beauty ?! And let’s say suddently white people would consider them as a good example of white beauty , so they would be black women who are a good example of…white beauty ? This is complete non-sense ! Crazy ! So the “war” will end when black people come to their senses and call a mixed race person , a mixed race person.
I agree with you on some level, but not completely. In fact, I disagree more. The beauty of our race is the major and noticeable differences. We are ppl of color, and color variations. For you to separate someone who’s skin is lighter, or hair is “finer” is foolery. Society alone categorizes us non whites as black, coming from a light skin, curly haired brother. I am proud to say I am a Black Man, and will not allow anyone tell me any different, and Im sure Beyonce would say the same thing. They are definitely examples of black beauty, but not definitive examples…
Hell, I know to them I can be an ‘exception to the rule’ but I will never benefit from White privelege.
Ahhh..you commented here AND on Facebook. and here i am having this argument with you on Facebook when I should have had it here.
You’re better than me. I read that foolywang, typed out 2,000 words of hot fyah disputing it, deleted it, and then heeded the wise words of Jiggaman: “my old man told me never argue with fools…”
I’m sorry, I guess I don’t understand why both Beyonce and Lauryn Hill (circa The Miseducation era, pre-current craziness) can’t serve as examples of black beauty. I think since little black girls come in all different shades, they should have examples of beauty in all different shades.
I’m IN the northeast and I don’t know about all this “northeasterners don’t see complexion” talk. This is actually the most segmented population I have ever encountered. Jews stay around Jews, Ricans with Ricans, West Indian with West Indian, etc. You don’t really get that down south. All the groups have lived in close proximity for centuries. For me the racism is different because it appears most of the northern racism comes from a complete lack of exposure. People stay within their own small subgroup.
PS: The south KILLING the north!!
I agree!
Earlier this year, I spent an extensive amount of time in Boston… And it never felt this segregated before. I mean, people were always double checking when I would enter some places as in “is she in the right place type stuff?”*… Maybe because I live in a city with a really big population of upwardly mobile black folks, but nobody would be surprised to see me enter any place… At least here, we tend to feel like the majority…
Ah, Boston. Using that place to describe race relations in the North is like using Antoine Dodson as an example of Black intellect. Black people in other parts of the NORTH don’t like going to Boston because it has a long standing rep as being racist. Try spending some time ANY other place in the North, and you won’t have those issues.
Try spending some time ANY other place in the North, and you won’t have those issues.
The thing is… I have. New York, New jersey, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania… Had the chance to spend a good amount of time in those northeastern locales, and my observation still stands. And while New York likes to tout itself as this magical melting pot, it really isn’t… It’s more like… a magical stir fry. Where all the ingredients are thrown together side by side in the same wok, but never really blend together.
I am not suggesting that the South is more progressive than the North. Far from it. I can’t even speak for most of the South. I can speak for Texas at the very least as an adopted Texan by way of West Africa. Lol. My observations as an “outsider” is that black folks in the south (and midwest) feel like this is truly their home and behave like it, while folks in the northeast don’t quite manage to give off that “It’s my land” feel.
With the exception of DC, a number of 2520s in the northeast have more of a “stay where you are, I will stay where I am” mentality… which can be more pernicious than in your face, blatant racism.
p.s: Realize that I live in a very diverse city with a large population of reading ninjas going back generations, so you may take that into consideration when evaluating my opinion.
Not just the northeast, but the midwest as well. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen a 2520′s head explode when confronted with my being in a place/position they thought was free from black folks. The North is waaaaayyy more segregated than the south, and is not truthful about its racial history. (People in OH will never admit there are sundown towns there. But there are).
Boston. Using that place to describe race relations in the North is like using Antoine Dodson as an example of Black intellect.
Lmao! Ive actually never been to Boston but Ive had a white person tell me that they are racist there.
I am from the south where 3 races exist: blacks, whites, and Mexicans (yep, if you are brown and can’t be placed into the first 2 categories, people will straight ask if you are Mexican to your face. Sad and ignorant, I know.). I think that northerners, have more diversity. Northerners have enclaves but still seem to be able to hang out with other groups b/c they see different people all the time. Southerners, at least where i am from, not only do they have their own racial sections of town, but they don’t have much diversity either and b/c of this lack of diversity, perceptions are skewed to the worst side.
Both areas have racism; one area just seems to be more tolerant.
I’m southern too. I live in the NE for now and while you might see some multi-cultural coalitions among the college age folks the rest of it up north is highly segregated. Just look at where/how people live. Little Italy, Chinatown, the Jewish neighborhoods, etc. And once you leave the metropolition area you can forget about it! I get looked at as if these white folks REALLY have never seen a colored in person. And it’s quite believable. Even in the smallest southern hick town there is a minimum of a small pocket of blacks that own their land and have been there since reconstruction. The white folks down there look at you funny cause they know all of THEIR ni@@ers. Who is this new colored comin around to rile up our good law abiding niggras??
“The white folks down there look at you funny cause they know all of THEIR ni@@ers. Who is this new colored comin around to rile up our good law abiding niggras??”
That’s funny because when I go to my home town I side-eye random white people who I don’t know as if they are about to commit a crime.
This Corey guy’s a smart gent. I co-sign this entire post. I always thought the Northerners were supposed to be the more exposed ones. They have just as many ignoramuses as we do down South, they just have a Northern accent to make it sound more intelligent lol
Yeah, but the stupidity is way more distributed. For one, people do tend to step outside their enclaves more up North than the South. As a result, people tend to be exposed to all sorts of stuff, if only by chance. Also, one reason that people tend to hate less across race is that people hate WITHIN races. Blacks fighting each other, Hispanics fighting each other, Whites fighting each other…it’s still ignorant, but it’s more in house. That doesn’t preclude racism…it just spreads the energy around.
Other Pay-Per-View (or at least bootleg the DVD) Battles:
Mothers/Fathers versus Baby’s Momma’s/Baby’s Daddy (but mainly the mom’s)
Moms versus Stepmoms
Sibling/Family Rivalry: The hardworking ones versus the always-got-a-hand-sticking-out ones.
Sibling Rivalry Continued: The middle child versus the other kids b/c she is tired of being the f’ing peace maker to their freaking childish behavior. Grow the F up y’all. Oh wait…sorry, my bad. This is not a vent session.
The Man Got His Foot On My Neck Which Is Why I Can’t Keep A Job versus F*k The Man and His Foot, I Run This Shiggidy and Will Start My Own Business
Christians Who Drink versus Christians Who Don’t (I’m just saying…Jesus got down with the get down. He did not turn the water into grape juice no matter what they serve to us in communion now.)
The Girl Next Door type versus the Super Hot Chick type (This does not mean ugly versus fine.)
Ha! Older children are grown up. And we are tired of taking up the slack for the rest of y’all spoiled brats, especially the babies of the family. And we’re tired of you, middle children, for not knowing your role and shutting your mouth! LOL
LOL; that’s actually quite funny. ‘Course, it is why this stupid rivalry keeps going. The older kids are always trying the beat the younger kids @$$ over some trifling ish. The younger kids want to run tell that to mom and dad. Then the parents tryna punish er’body (including the middle child) for the bullish between the old’n and the young’n. And, y’all all come back to the middle child b/c she the one who was level headed enough to pay her bills on time and keep that good credit. So now y’all wanna borrow some money/get a loan knowing y’all ain’t gon’ pay it back. But, if she don’t give it to you, you run tell that too. Stupid circle of life.
And we’re tired of you, middle children, for not knowing your role and shutting your mouth!
Yes! Lol. May I add we are tired of you middle children for never feeling involved and being so selfish!!!!
(First born speaking.
)
Momentarily Reverting to Sixth Grade: “I’m rubber, you’re glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you.” (We now return to our regularly scheduled programming; already in session.)
Darn! This violates my “grow the F up” principle. But, it sure felt good to say it again.
Bwahahahaha! That was too funny.
as far as black women are concerned (and black men because we hype it up like a playground fight):
women with a$$ vs women who look like they sit on books all day.
i see it everywhere. a$$ envy is real.
a$$ envy is real.
Shoot, I’m working with a lil’ something but I still get a$$ envy… Have you seen Serena’s donk lately? I’m obsessed with that donk.
really? i’m not. it doesn’t come off as soft to me. what man really wants a muscle booty?
But a woman wants a muscle booty that will defy gravity in years to come!
+1. With a tad bit of softness.
“…vs women who look like they sit on books all day.”
Best description in the history of adjectives.
HOLD the phone! Raise up off Prairie View A & M University. Don’t be hatin’ cuz you missed the bus.
Prairie View Produces Productive People.
Out,
Keleigh D Felder, Self Appointed Alumni Ambassador
congratulations. We the people of Morehouse appreciate your contribution to this discussion.
*hifive*
and was that a short yellow bus?
Black men vs Black ‘butch’ Lesbians
Just. Sayin.
Cause I have some guy friends that get UPSET when they find out the “prettiest” girl in the room is going home with the chick rocking a cesar and fresh kicks.
Lakers fans vs. Everybody Else
I promise I broke up with a dude due to his love for Kobe Bryant.
Traditional Names vs. Hood Names
Ohhhhh, Shaquienta…..
“I vote because I believe in change” vs. “I don’t vote ’cause it’s all a conspiracy.”
As for the light-skinned versus dark-skinned debate, I once had a good friend tell me he was going to marry a dark-skinned woman. Why? Because dark-skinned men are the best athletes.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so I did both!
“Traditional Names vs. Hood Names
Ohhhhh, Shaquienta…..”
LOLOL….I just felt the need to do a quick shout-out to those in my world whose names will probably NOT be found on anyone’s lunchbox anytime soon…..this one’s for you, QuanTifica, Dyoni, Oranjelo (NO, that is NOT a joke) and his brother Le’Monjelo (NO, that is not a joke, either), Quazay, Deundre’, Treasure, Goldyn, and Tar’Jenee’ and/or Target (pronounced Tar-jhey…why so many apostrophes?)…
I used to know a child named “Treasure” spelled with a t,a z, a u, and 2 rs. Think about it…
my 2 cents…
i wont ever truly get the hcbu vs pwi thing..but i’m just glad that we’re going to school. period.
get dem papers peoples.
+1
KB, People miss the important sh*t from time to time.
“..but i’m just glad that we’re going to school. period.
get dem papers peoples.”
This is what a Canadian would say, too.
lol
But, nawl, I totally agree, girl!
LOL.
bye cheekie.
*comes back to hug cheekie.
*re-exits.
#KeishaBrownsBosomHug
*get in line.
I just wrote something similar to the natural hair battle, basically implying that (most) men prefer straight or natural. At least the ones I’ve come across.
Also want to add the new negro bourgeois class versus everyone else
Army vs Navy vs Marines (we’ve always had these battles of who had it worse. The air force doesn’t count)
Weaves vs Lacefronts
Tyler Perry vs Spike Lee
I meant prefer straight versus natural hair
oh i forgot one:
” Btw, HBCU brethren, you can continue to try, but you’re just not going to ever succeed at making me feel bad that I didn’t do undergrad at Cheney or Prairie View A&M. I appreciate the effort, though.”
“Ivy League HBCUs vs the rest of HBCUs”
What the deuce is an ivy league HBCU?!?!?! I attended Howard I consider it to be the cream of the crop. #imjussaying
I’m surprised I haven’t seen anything along the lines of ‘fades vs braids’. Hair is not just a women’s issue.
long live sexy, black as outerspace sistas with crazy huge natural afros that are from the north that went to a hbcu and are athiests!!!!
….btw im light bright damn near white and actually prefer women so black they can sneak up on their own shadow. THAT SH*T IS SEXYYYY!
actually prefer women so black they can sneak up on their own shadow.
*FALLS THE EFF OUT
THANK YOU for adding the PWI v HBCU debate. I live in DC now and, despite the fact that I went to a top 15 school (when I was there it was top 10…damn these young bucks for diminishing the value of my degree!), people really do try to make me feel badly because I didn’t go to an HBCU. Despite the fact that I was heavily courted by several HBCUs, it wasn’t the choice I felt was for me–they are great for many people, that’s just not would have worked for me. So, if folks who wen’t to HBCU’s don’t want me to be a snob for going to a top school, don’t be a snob about your HBCU. I know how to have just as much fun at Howard Homecoming as I do my 5 year Wash U reunion–so chill the eff out.
*went, not wen’t, lol. Sorry–typing quickly!
Oh, and you also forgot the myriad of Greek rivalries “Alpha/AKA v everyone else”… “Deltas/Oues v everyone else”… “Kappas v the Western World”…and-in many regions-Alphas/AKAs/Deltas/Kappas & Ques v the Greeks a bunch of people don’t acknowledge (not my viewpoint, I’m just telling ya’ll what I see go down…)…and the ultimate “Greeks v. Greek Life just ain’t for me v. I did try to pledge but now I pretend to be a non-conformist to make my rejection hurt less.”
Lets not forget those from the dc area…..PG vs DC
And BMORE vs DC
And actually from DC v. Just living here…
you aint lyin. born in dc, lived in dc, pg and fairfax….lawd im gonna have flashbacks of crew shout outs at (((insert your favorite older go go band here))) shows.
right, BYB vs JYB
byb all day!
HBCU vs PWI
If it wasn’t at work right with my supervisor standing over my cubical like a hawk I would give you a piece of my mind on this topic. But I will say this, no where in the HBCU (HOWARD U) did it ever train us to look down on the bruthas that weren’t a part of it. Complete opposite…only to uplift the the bruthas that were and the one to come, THE LEGACY left behind and THE LEGACY still to come. Anyone who says different prolly didn’t gradaute or did with a 2.0 or sumtin like that, lol
@Fritz Andre, I know you directed your reply to everyone, but just to clarify:
I wasn’t at all saying that anyone was trained to be that way, so please excuse me if that wasn’t correctly articulated. Similarly, there was no “training” at a PWI that encourages students to look down on students at Minority Serving institutions of any kind ((HBCUs, HSIs and Tribal Colleges).
That said, that doesn’t mean such hate doesn’t still happen. I was merely commenting on my experience and the rivalry that I have been introduced to since moving from St. Louis to a Black Mecca, where many HBCU alumni also migrate. Anywhere you get a critical mass of people with a shared experience or identity, the *opportunity* arises to group up against another group and/or folks who don’t belong to your preferred group. And I’ve had more people than I’d care to count tell me how much I “missed out” by not going to an HBCU, and assume that I had to “play games” to attend my university. I’ve had damn near strangers gang up on me (GROWN folks, mind you–other young professionals) and tell me they “pity” me for where I chose to go to school. What was telling was that none of them ever said anything of the sort to me one-on-one, but only when they were empowered by the presence of others who identified with them and the fact that I was, for the most part, all alone.
Don’t worry–I held my ground (they don’t raise shrinking violets in the Midwest…) But we BOTH know that if I expressed the same disdain toward black institutions and berated people as to how much better going to a white school is as was done to me, I’d get my a** handed to me something tough.
So, I trust that you don’t roll like that, and I KNOW that HBCUs don’t teach that–trust me, I get that much. But that doesn’t discount the fact that I’m NOT the only one with a story similar to mine. And I’m not a sell out for choosing something different.
Wow, I received the invite to that FAMU classic party with the natural discounts and I know the person who promoted it. He used to date my best friend many many moons ago. While a part of me would have been thrilled to get a discount on a party based on something as random as how I wear my hair, the other part of me knows that the guy who offered that discount was likely just doing it to populate his party with the kind of chicks he happens to like and as a way to shame the type he doesn’t. It did not come from a place of promoting love for the locks we were born with. I was tempted to call him out when I got the invite but I decided to file my nails instead.
HBCU vs PWI
@EVERYONE
If I wasn’t in my cubical right now with my supervisor over my like a hawk I would really give you a pice of my mind in this topic. No where in the in HBCU (HOWARD U) experience did it train us to look down on those who were not a part of it. Actually the complete opposite…it was to uplift those were and those to come. Essentially uplift the LEGACY that was and the LEGACY to come. I challenge anyone who say says different, they prolly didn’t graduate or they did with a 2.0 or sumtin like that, lol.
I’ve got one more…
I live in ATL now but when people ask where I’m from I still tell the truth and say I’m from Missouri (M-I-Z-Z-O-U!!). Then I get the crazy-eyed, baffled look from them as they exclaim, “There are BLACK people in Missouri?!?!”
Yes, doggone it! There are black people in Missouri.
My battle: Black People in the Midwest versus The Disbelief That There Are Black People In the Midwest (Other than Chicago/KC/STL)
i got some friends that live in wyoming born and raised
I’m trying hard not to say, “There are BLACK people in Wyoming?!?!” Because I so relate to the situation. But, I was thinking it, though. (I hang my head in shame. So sorry for my hypocritical behavior.)
apparently there is a population of blacks and latinos in cheyenne wyo….who knew!
Not only do I KNOW black folks live in Missouri (not “Misery,” as some folks like to call it), I’d like to personally thank Mizzou (and SLU, during basketball season) for giving me games to attend/teams to cheer for. I looooooooooooove Wash U to the bottom, but dammit if we weren’t effing D-III, lol.
My girl!!! I’m doing my Color Purple Celie and Nettie hand clap game with you.
And, LOL, at “Misery”. My uncle says that every now and then (and he still lives there).
However, stank eye to folks who pronounce the state name with all seriousness as “Mazurah”
YES! Who in Lola Falana would want to live in a place called Mazurah.
Oh well. Go Tigers–me an u us never part.
High Five and Amen.
Me and u, us have one heart.
I get that all the time too, and I’m from Kansas City! I don’t know what people think is in Missouri…
Another one I hate is when people act like Missouri is in the deep south or something. I lived in DC for a bit and to them Missouri might as well be Alabama.
*M-I-Z! Z-O-U!*
Exactly!
Hugs and stuff regarding all that.
Been busy today, off tomorrow. . . #GHOE. . . great post
#GHOE that is all
#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE #GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE#GHOE
King of Rock ‘n Roll vs King of Pop (admittedly, this is not really an issue in the Black community as we all know MJ was just the King…point blank, period. Elvis is cool, too though.)
1995: OJ Killed That Girl vs Juice Ain’t Do Nothing (The Glove Didn’t Fit!)
2007: Juice Going to Jail (and he probably knew a little something about who committed those ’95 murders) vs Juice Going to Jail (and he actually committed the ’95 murders).
Lemme add on…..
- Hennessy vs Remy
- SuperBowl vs NBA Championships (well, hell….last time I checked, both were partially locked out)
- pre-crack Katt Williams (“The Pimp Chronicles”, “It’s Pimpin’, Pimpin’”) vs post-fame Kevin Hart
…and may I just add: whatever happened to Bruce-Bruce??
….oh yeah, with an ode to my college days…
- Kappas vs Alphas in the annual step show
- Ques vs Sigmas in “the battle for who will get kicked out of (insert name of house) the quickest”
..and yep, I went to a PWI….proud of it, too.
….oh yeah, with an ode to my college days…
- Kappas vs Alphas in the annual step show
- Ques vs Sigmas in “the battle for who will get kicked out of (insert name of house) the quickest”
..and yep, I went to a PWI….proud of it, too.
HOLD UP!!!!! Why you calling us out like that????
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black married women vs. black single women
parents of kids in wedlock vs. parents of kids out of wedlock
no reservations vs man vs food vs drive ins, diners and dives….wait…
NYC vs. the world. We da best.
Did anyone mention the black folks who vote Conservative Republican vs. The black folk who vote Democrat? And how they both believe that they have the best interest of the African American (or black) community in mind when supporting various doctrine. Not realizing that they’re both ‘sleep’ and unaware of how fvcked up our government really is?
Here’s my stances on all these topics mention:
Natural Vs. Processed: I’m natural, I went natural back in 2008, because I had a bad experience with some braids and a perm that completely took my hair out. I watched chunks of my hair wash down the drain after using a perm/coloring system that did my hair no justice. So, I wore tracks (weave) for about 6 months, until my hair grew back. And when I saw how much my hair grew, with out using harmful chemicals and dye, I decided I would rock a fro. And I’ve been loving my natural coils every since.
Now, I’ve noticed a difference in how I’m treated by black men between the ages of 25 – to 40 vs black men who’re 40 -70. Black men who’re older tend to love my hair and give me complements; even try and get my number. Black men who’re ‘enlightened’ so to speak (conscious brothers) ask me out on dates. White and Latino men love my hair, my skin and my curves and I’ve had a few of them express genuine interest in possibly starting a relationship. White folks always talk to me about my hair (call me beautiful) and other sista’s who’ve gone natural engage in conversations about hair care.
But! The people I have the most issue with concerning my hair is black women who wear weaves, relax their hair and young black men in between the ages of 18- 25. They make negative comments about my hair and the hair of many other sista’s who’re rocking a fro, twist, and locks. I’ve read blogs and have even had sista call me a “natural nazi” when referencing my experience going natural. And I honestly don’t understand why its considered radical or revolutionary to grow my hair in its most natural state from my head by BLACK people? I had a sister tell me that my hair was “unprofessional” and that she would either never hire me or fire me if she was my prospective employer/current boss 0_o?
We do this shit to ourselves because we’re so suck on European standards of beauty that we fail to recognize our own beauty when we see it. I wore weave, I did the perms and spent thousands of dollars in hair care products; and I felt it was time that I just ‘do me’ and be my natural self (real hair, real eye’s, real nails; “real” self). It has nothing to do with making someone feel bad about wearing another woman’s hair on their head, or dunking their heads in a box of relaxer to get it cabbage patch kid silky.
Dark skin vs. Light skin:
I’ve dealt with that battle all my life. Being from Texas, this was a huge determining factor in if you where considered attractive or not in my community. And for the longest I felt resentment towards light skin black folks because I was told (by them) that I was fat, black and ugly. It wasn’t until I joined the Navy and removed myself from that environment of ignorance that I learned black beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Even traveling over seas showed me that people from other nations love my ‘natural me’ more than my own people. And I think that until ‘African Americans’ move away from ninjas who further perpetuate this nonsense between the hues we’ll constantly see this battled engulfed in mental slavery continue to play out.
South Vs. North:
I’ve had to deal with that too. While active duty Navy, I was enrolled in military training in Grate Lakes with a lot of black folks from New York, Philly, and Chi-Town, They where under the mistaken assumption that everyone from down south either practice voodoo, rides horses and cows, talks slow, are dark and dumb, fat, sloppy and lazy. All the negative stereotypes of black folks found in a Cake Walk during a menstril show is what some blacks from up North think of black folks down south. And I’ve I had to set a few ninja’s straight; when explaining to them how similar in thought process they are to that of the racist White Spumiest who burned a cross in our yard when I was in the 8th grade (we’re more racist towards one another than white folks are).
I can say that these mentalities are a direct result of self-hate and double-conciousness with out our community; or seeing ourselves through the eyes of our oppressors. But!, I would be giving these morons who buy into this non-senses credit that far exceeds their mental capacity. I feel that if you’re beyond the age of 18 and you’ve yet to change your stances on these topics from that of the Jim Crow South (attempting to join the rest of us in the year 2011), you’re not worth my time even attempting to explain how ignorant you are. These people are prime examples of the ‘crabs’ at the bottom of the barrel who’re more mentally equipped to hold our people back to uplift us to the next level.
I can definitely feel you on the HBCU vs PWI issue. I went to Vanderbilt for undergrad and those misfits ( just joking) from Tennessee State would always find a way to question our “blackness”. As if we should accept an (in many cases) sub-par education to stick it to the man for not allowing us into their institutions back in the day.