The Nation of Islam's niggling presence shut down a production shoot last Friday night of Noah's Arc, the nations first black gay TV series (MTV/LOGO).
Lead by Minister Tony Muhammad, about 150 Black Muslims protested the show near the interesection of Rodeo and 6th. Avenue in LA.
"We cannot depend on the gay community at-large to take up our battles in our own community," voiced Jasmyne Cannick, co-producer of the show and a board member of the National Black Justice Coalition. "We need to lead that fight. The Black community needs to see us."
That's very true. But I'm not so sure if counter-protests, with more black faces hollarin' about injustice is the way to go. It seems to me that since Farrakhan's recent embrace of Keith Boykin, this new development is confusing to say the least. Furthermore, his statements in a press conference regarding the 10th anniversary observance of the Million Man march confuse even more.
He said, “The makeup will be our people, whoever we are,” said Farrakhan. “Male, female, gay, straight, light, dark, rich, poor, ignorant, wise.” Farrakhan added, “We are family. We will be coming together to discuss family business.”
So what the fuck? Why the protest? Whose the leader of this outfit?
Are membership rolls within the Nation in decline? Are they employing the ol' reliable method of appealing to mass homophobic stupidity ... just to bolster its bow-tied, bean-pie-pimp contingent? How low can you go? Or is there something more ominous and right wing going on here? Could it be an attempt to split the black community in two?
Whatever the reason, this inane publicity stunt got very little. I say ignore them and keep producing the show that we've all been waiting for over a year to see. Because little minds get distracted easily, and when there's no spotlight, they'll soon go back to doing what they do best ....
Hawkin' those damn pies on Crenshaw.
4 comments:
though i'm not a fan of the show, per se, i am interested in the questions you've raised here. what the eff is going on? certainly, it wouldn't be the first instance of factionalism within the NoI creating what appears to be a contradiction/hypocrisy in their platform & within their ranks.
but in regard to jasmyne's statement, i gotta scratch my head and wonder... what would it take to get 150 black gay men to stand together in solidarity?
suggestions of idling membership notwithstanding, the NoI has shown that it can still mobilize its bruthas. so, i'll stop short of saying "it's unfortunate that i can't imagine us doing the same" and say this: i look forward to the black gay community seizing all of the many resources it has within and available to it as a means of creating and sustaining a distinct and undeniable force in this nation. i go with this latter statement for two reasons:
1. because physical bodies congregating in one space is not always the most efficient means of protest, and if any community has the creativity and ingenuity to generate more efficacious means of subversion, it's us.
2. because i believe it to be quite possible.
It's only a matter of time.
thanks Larry ...
it's an odd phenomenon that we can't come together in support of something serious. we do frivolous well, but issues of great importance get pushed to the backseat.
On 'Boston Legal' last night, William Shatner's aging lawyer character claimed that men are all "desperate for relevance".
Hmmmmm.....
Is that the reason why we can't gel as a community, because our individual needs, egos, and agendas keep us apart? Are we knocking each other down in search of personal relevance?
And if so ... what can we do about it?
I say Ignore there Ignant asses too
I hate hearing stuff like this,but it just motivates me to want to do more. The show is a creative way to show Black Gay Males, make us more visable, and any denial of that is a slap in a face to us. sigh.
Post a Comment