What or who exactly is a "cornball brother"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watch Soledad's, "Black in America" tonight on CNN. The documentary will touch on this issue of "blackness".

Look I'm a multicultural activists. So, I deal with racial issues on a daily basis. The list that the poster came up with is a reality and the big elephant in the room that the black community doesn't want to discuss. Those who are on the receiving in of intra-racism do suffer. I can understand why some black people isolate themselves from other blacks. Who wants to be around people who will not accept you for who you are? However, this form of isolation creates the division that is within our communities. Read, "Come On People" by Dr. Bill Cosby. He spoke on the issue about how blacks have allowed ghettoization to respresent our culture and we make fun of those who don't perpetuate the ghetto persona. We are the only group of people who demonize each other for behaving classy. As if only whites are classy and we must maintain this ghetto thuggish or buffoonery lifestyle. Why do you think you see so many blacks in the DC area embracing negative stereotypes? It is because we accept it as "black culture". A black man like Griffin possesses class and grace, but we pitch a fit and cry, "His a cornball". It is this type of thought process which makes me say, "Damn, what the heck is wrong with my people?"


If us blacks are not willing to admit that we do mistreat other blacks who don't fall in line with the black community, then you are either being in denial or you're one of the bullies who bully other blacks that you consider not "black enough" (whatever the Hell that means). Intra-racism does exist within the black community. It's actually worst than white supremacy in my book. Yes, we all know that blacks are not a monolithic group. However, it doesn't appear that the black community is accepting of the diversity because they want to beat other blacks with the "you're a cornball or you're not black enough" whip. The Guardians of All Things Black & Lovely will always make sure that every black person will ascribe to their close-minded views on what and who is black. Don't sit here and ignore the fact that blacks who don't appeal to their point of views are very much ostracized and demonized within the black community. I remembered when President Obama first came upon the political scene blacks put his behind through the "black enough" test. Even Jesse Jackson wanted to grab him by his balls. The hatred was accepted because Jesse Jackson was considered a "real black man" he had to put Obama in check. This is just one example. You have to walk on egg shells when you're around some black folks because we know that we will loose friends and become demonized. Some of us have to live in the closet. I'm not talking about homosexuality. I'm talking about the racial closet of being black, but not ascribing to the beliefs system of the black community. Yes, some of us wear masks in order to fit in. We have to Waltz between mainstream America and still maintain our "street cred" so that the Guardians of All Things Black & Lovely don't turn against us.

This is such bullshit I can't believe it. First of all, I consider myself unapologetically black. I am proud of being black. No one I know thinks that Jesse Jackson speaks for us. He is such a has been. What black people do you know who "demonize" each other for having class. What the hell are you talking about? Almost every black person I know is upper class, but I don't see them as feeling like they are different than the broader community. Do I pass judgement on some black people, yes. Do I think that there is absolutely a ghettoization of our culture, yes, I do.

Did anyone I know question Obama's blackness, ah NO! Do I question Clarence Thomas' blackness - no. Do I think he's an idiot? Yes. Do I believe in God - no. I'm agnostic. I've never felt like black people have turned their back on me because of it. I always tell people that AAs are way too religious.

What the litmus test is that one should have an appreciation for what it's like to be black in America. That might lead you to different conclusions, but don't act like racism no longer exists or that affirmative action helped you, but shouldn't help anyone else (in the case of Clarence Thomas).

Why would you use this forum to express your displeasure? Ok, they called him a cornball. So what. He's a cornball, that doesn't take anything away from him being black. What's the big deal. I grew up in Howard County next to a horse club. I sound like a white girl. So what. That doesn't take anything away from me being black. I don't care what you call me. I'm black and proud.

Listen surbanite, you grew up having luxuries that some inner city children in DC will only dream of. Do you even know the trials and tribulations of black youth growing up in the inner city? NO! Of course no one in your social circle has not dealt with demonization. However, the inner-city black kid who happens to be intellectually gifted trying to make it out of the ghetto gets demonized because both their community and their family are against them making it out. When everyone around you is abusing drugs and partaking in socially destructive things do you think that you're going to get support in an environment where obtaining an education is looked down upon? I work with children like this on a daily basis. The public schools in DC have an ample amount of gifted children. Unfortunately, it's very difficult for them because their parents tell them, "You will never get anywhere in life or the guys on the corner tell them to stop acting white." These wonderful youth live in constant fear because they don't want their asses kick in school by other students who don't value education. They pretend to be dumb just in order to fit in. So, take your denial and delusions somewhere else. If you think classism, colorism, or intra-racism doesn't exist in the black community, then you're delusional. Your classist and out of touch attitude are part of the problems.

Also, the OP isn't talking about Affirmative Action and he/she is not saying that racism doesn't exist. They're basically pointing out that blacks have to deal with certain prejudices within their community. I see the intra-racism playing out each week with the youth that I work with too. Actually, this is an obstacle that some of us (like you who come from suburban communities) can't grasped or want to pretend that it doesn't exist. That's why so many parents opt out of public schools in DC because they don't want their children to encounter the thug culture and all the dysfunctionalism that it brings. If you're an inner city mom with a gifted child who can't afford the best quality schools or the best neighborhood to raise your child, then how do you think that gifted child is going to fair with the daily harrassment in DCPS? Let me tell you, our prisons are full of black men who took the choice of being "cool" because they didn't want to risk getting demonized. If folks don't think that this is sad, then no wonder the black community has so many issues. Folks are in denial!

[Anonymous]

That last post jumped the shark. Whose parents tell them ""You will never get anywhere in life or the guys on the corner tell them to stop acting white." Black people are not against success.

[Anonymous]

The issue is that if you are black - ghetto, middle or upper class and eschew a certain set of affectations and political viewpoints you are written off as an outsider and a 'cornball'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That last post jumped the shark. Whose parents tell them ""You will never get anywhere in life or the guys on the corner tell them to stop acting white." Black people are not against success.

No, black people are not aginst success, however, there are subsets of people against black people being successful...and yes I am talking about subsets of black people.