Remembering Zelma Henderson...

Zelma Henderson, the last surviving Topeka plaintiff from the Brown v. Board of Education case, has died.

In remembering her, we should remember why she joined the struggle and signed on to the case.

"I wanted my children to know all races like I did," she said "It means a lot to a person's outlook on life. No inferiority complex at all, that's what I wanted for my children as far as race was concerned.” (As reported by The Associated Press in 2004)

Zelma Henderson was 88 years old.

Pondering the shit not being addressed whilst folks pretend to debate isms…

A bitch watched the primary coverage yesterday for a wee bit and then I had to turn that shit off.

I’ve found myself getting drawn into debates over campaign bullshit and distracted from the real issues that are at play in this election year.

So, I took a break last night and my ass is glad for it because I woke up this morning to several e-mails asking this bitch whether I thought sexism or racism have had a greater impact on the Democratic side of things.

Blink.

Shit.

Sexism has been a factor in the primary race?

Of course it has.

This is America and you can drop a period and end that sentence after 'factor'. I’m not disturbed by pundits pondering whether the political press has indulged in a sexism gorge fest…my ass is disturbed that anyone who regularly watches these people could work up shock over the sexism gorge fest taking place.

I’m a woman (and by the way, someone needs to tell these same assholes that ‘woman’ comes in multiple shapes, colors, backgrounds and orientations) and my ass is deeply involved in politics. Sexism is a factor…in print, on television, on the fucking radio and in the minds of voters.

So a bitch wasn’t shocked.

I was disappointed…

…and more than a little rattled at the overt and unapologetic nature of the beast.

Cough.

Racism has been, is and will remain a factor in American political life. I will admit that my dreamy eyed optimistic hope that racism wouldn’t be used as a political tool during the Democratic Primary season was…well, dreamy eyed and overly optimistic.

My bad (wince).

But a bitch wasn’t shocked.

I was, once again, disappointed…

…and more than a little rattled at the overt and unapologetic nature of the beast.

Pause…sip ice water…continue.

The difference between this bitch and some pundits and supporters is that my ass couldn’t fix my face to deny that sexism has played a role in this shit if the reward was a life free of bullshit. But some would deny that racism has been in play. Others still seek to engage in an 'oppression off' and debate whether racism is more harmful that sexism or sexism is more harmful than racism or your momma said my momma said blah followed by blah followed by Jesus bullshit sure...does...stink.

Well, this bitch ain’t playing that tired ass insulting and bound to get you nowhere fast game.

I am a woman of color and my angry black self is subject to both and the beneficiary of neither.

This election matters in a lot of ways but one key way is that it presents the Democratic Party and candidates to the American people. Breaking news, y'all – most Americans aren’t into party politics. Oh, they may vote…but that doesn’t mean that they define themselves by party affiliation. And those that don’t vote often cite party–based drama as a reason for not voting.

So here y'all are baiting and insulting and pandering your way to the convention where some are threatening to bait, insult and pander their way to the nomination…bare-assed and naked as the day you were born and demonstrating no home training for all the world to see.

Sigh.

But this election matters and I can't afford for that to get lost in the bullshit.

My community needs change...in our education policy, funding for programs that assist the mentally disabled, housing, health care, std prevention and comprehensive sex education, job creation, investment in industries that create jobs and so much more.

This is not a game to me or an opportunity to increase the number of visitors to this blog.

This is the shit…the show, for the love of all that matters.

Let’s all try to keep that in mind while others attempt to stir shit through June 3rd.

Don’t get me wrong…a bitch thinks a serious discussion of racism and sexism is long overdue. I am not a fan of the school of tolerance.

But the second someone says in reference to this election cycle that sexism was in play but racism wasn’t, trust that a serious discussion of anything is not about to follow.

Stray Rescue!

Oh my Gawd!

Stray Rescue of St. Louis has won a $1 million shelter makeover.

Blink.

Stray Rescue beat out two other finalists in the national contest sponsored by zootoo.com.

As some of y’all know, my dawg niece Sweetie is a Stray Rescue alum. Sweetie was rescued from North St. Louis. She had been shot in her front leg and left for dead. Stray Rescue saved her life and now she is our three legged Chow-based darling!

Having adopted Betsey the sorta-beagle from the city pound in Dallas and Theo the Master of the Bay from the streets, I know the amazing feeling of saving a life and I know the joy of having pet companions to share my life with.

Randy Grim and all the folks at Stray Rescue are a blessing in our city.

Congrats and keep up the good work!

And if you are looking for a pet companion check out the adorable adoptable fantabulous dawgs and cats available for adoption through Stray Rescue of St. Louis.

Sending best wishes to Senator Kennedy!

Senator Edward Kennedy has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.

Kennedy has represented Massachusetts in the Senate since 1962. That means he has been on the job longer than this bitch has been alive. He is one of six senators in American history to serve more than 40 years and something tells this bitch Senator Kennedy isn’t done serving yet.

I think Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) had a great response… "Ted Kennedy has spent his life caring for those in need. Now it's time for those who love Ted and his family to care for them and join in prayer to give them strength."

By request, my thoughts on the Morehouse Valedictorian story…

Okay, this bitch didn’t attend a historically black college or university but this story still jumped out at me.

As someone who has always been one of the few POC in every school environment through college…blink…I found the story of a white student's experience at Morehouse very interesting.

And let me be clear, I’m not bothered that the story of Morehouse graduating its first white Valedictorian made the news.

What bothers me is that I’m a news junkie and I can’t remember CNN ever covering the Valedictorian of a HBCU before.

Mayhap an exploration of that should be added to the Black in America segment line-up.

Blink.

Shopping…

Happy Monday!

A bitch went shopping this weekend.

Blink.

That’s a huge statement coming from this bitch!

I hate to shop for anything other than food, books or funktified Afro adornments so seeing me hit the shops is a rare sight indeed.

Anyhoo, a bitch needed some new lipstick and a pair of comfy sandals for the summer season soon to come. That meant a trip to the MAC Store (happy, happy, happy followed by joy times three!!) and…ummm, I had no fucking idea where else to go.

Shit.

Oh, I know where to go to get the same shoes I wore to the ground last year. But for some reason I decided I needed to shop around and make sure my feet weren't missing out on the shoe experience of a lifetime. Since C-Money got my shopping gene, I asked her where a bitch could find a large selection of comfy shoes and, of course, she insisted on joining me.

Off to the MAC Store we went!

Ah, there’s nothing like a new signature shade to pick a bitch’s mood up. Underworld has been replaced by Media! Oh, and a tube of Film Noir too for contrast.

Fantabulous!

Following our MAC-based indulgence we hit several shops where I did my best to try to find some new style of shoe that would destroy my reputation for buying the same shit year after year.

Alas a bitch ended up settling on a new pair of comfy sandals that look like the cousins of the pair I wore into the ground last year.

Sigh.

Fuck it.

My feet are happy (wink).

A victory for choice in Missouri!

From Planned Parenthood Affiliates in Missouri…

You've reached out to Governor Matt Blunt and the anti-choice extremists in Jefferson City. You have signed petitions, organized, tabled, and gone to Jefferson City to lobby legislators – you have done critically important work in protecting women's health.

Today, your work paid off. You helped to defeat the Abortion Restriction Act of 2008!

Every year for the past 5 years, the Missouri Legislature has passed restrictive bills or eliminated programs that could have reduced the need for abortion services through family planning and sex education. This year, you defeated their sixth attempt.

Not only did you fight and win against the Abortion Restriction bill of 2008, but you also laid to rest this year's effort by David Reardon to put a dangerous, anti-choice ballot initiative on the ballot in November!

On behalf of the thousands of Missouri women, men, and teens who rely on Planned Parenthood's services, thank you! Soon, we will update you on where your legislators stood on reproductive rights this session, but for now, rest assured that your work has paid off.

Thank you for continuing to stand up for choice!

And thank you to the folks at Planned Parenthood who work tirelessly to protect and defend choice in Missouri!

A victory for Missouri voters!

Woo hoo!

The proposed photo id legislation has failed to pass in Missouri!

Oh, hell yes!

Missouri lawmakers ended this year’s session without passage of photo id legislation that would have prevented up to 240,000 Missourians from voting.

Congrats to everyone who worked hard and voiced their opposition to this mess.

Today is a good day.

Now, get out there and vote!

Message sent…

A bitch would like to send a tip of the Afro to the several hundred graduates and members of the Wash. U. faculty who turned their back on Phyllis Schlafly in silent protest to her being awarded an honorary degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

And a special “Go on with your bad self!!” goes out to those faculty members who left the stage (daaaaaaaaamn!) to join graduates and turn their back on that heinous woman.

Be proud y’all! You made sure your voice was heard and that is a very powerful thing.

And it also means you’ve earned an honorary degree in keeping shit real!

Fantabulous.

Go on with your bad self California!

A bitch has been scrambling to read all the articles about the California Supreme Court ruling overturning that state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Congrats to all the legal minds and activists who worked on this case!

Regarding the three invitations to attend California-based weddings that a bitch received via e-mail today, trust that my ass shall seriously consider them.

I may not personally know any of you...blink...but a bitch could probably be wooed to California with the promise of an In N Out Burger (wink)!

But a bitch will have to check with Brother Rob on my qualifications to perform weddings through the United Church of Bitchitude and Latter Day Drunks. The Church (wink) is based in Missouri and they banned same-sex marriage here in 2004, so no member of the flock of bitchitude has ever requested that a bitch marry them.

Pause…consider…continue.

Will I have to wear one of those pointed pontifical crown-like things? Because that shit would seriously fuck up a bitch’s Afro…big time!

Ummm yeah, we’ll just skip the crown-like thing and bedazzle up some robes instead.

Fantabulous!

Finally!

Let’s jump right on in, shall we?

It feels like I’ve been waiting for this moment forever and a day!

But finally…after what must have been years of waiting and being frustrated and listening to verbal dancing…FINALLY, I heard the declaration I wanted to hear.

Pause…sip ice water…continue.

Joey B. (Senator Joe Biden to all y’all…we’re tight like that) called Scooter B.’s comments about Democrats appeasing terrorist “bullshit.”

What, you thought a bitch was talking about something else…mayhap a certain endorsement made yesterday? Yeah, like you didn’t see that one coming a mile away!

No, I’m talking about calling bullshit bullshit. As my father often said if it looks like it and smells like it call it what it is! Well Biden made his declaration off of the Senate floor. “This is bullshit. This is malarkey. This is outrageous. Outrageous for the president of the United States to go to a foreign country, sit in the Knesset…and make this kind of ridiculous statement.”

He went on to add…“He’s the guy who’s weakened us. He’s the guy that’s increased the number of terrorists in the world. His policies have produced this vulnerability the United States has. His intelligence community pointed that out not me. The NIE has pointed that out and what are you talking about, is he going to fire Condi Rice? Condi Rice has talked about the need to sit down. So his first two appeasers are Rice and Gates. I hope he comes home and does something.”

Oh Joey, look at you speaking the damned truth! That shit sounds like a foreign language after so many years of…well, bullshit.

Blink.

The situation to your right...

A bitch spent my evening catching up on the paperwork/spreadsheet side of one of my volunteer commitments so I had to pass on my usual primary watching mini-party.

Sigh.

But that shit was over last week....hell, last month if the exit polls are accurate. A certain Wendi just sent this bitch this link. Polling indicates that both Dems could beat McCain. Interesting, but the polling on that topic has been all over the place since McCain reached his Presumptive Nomineeship. I honestly think political polls were invented to give pundits something to talk about.

Anyhoo, Brother Rob and this bitch did talk politics last night…but not Democratic politics. Rather, we discussed the Ron Paul situation on the Republican side.

Blink.

C’mon, don’t tell me you forgot about Ron!

Don’t sleep, Republican voters are still pulling the lever for Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee. According to ABC news, 25 percent of primary voters chose someone other than McCain in recent contests.

Mayhap Ron Paul supporters plan to stir some shit up in Minny.

Hmmm.

This bitch plans to watch the Republican festival anyway.

There’s no way in hell my ass would miss watching the RNC try to launch McCain through the clusterfuck that is Scooter B.’s legacy.

Shit, it may not be appointment viewage but it’ll be TiVo worthy for sure…

A bitch is coming to San Francisco!

This bitch will be visiting San Francisco to participate in the BlogHer ’08 Conference July 18 through July 20!

Yay!

I will be on the What We Believe: How To Take Names and Be Taken Seriously as a Political Blogger panel with Morra Aarons-Mele, and Mona Gable.

I hope to see some of y’all there in a few months!

By request, friends don’t let friends award honorary degrees to Phyllis Schalfly…

Washington University will be handing over an honorary degree to Phyllis fucking Schlafly.

What the fuck are you thinking, people?

Of all the freaks in the world to honor you pick this one?!?

Pause...consider...continue.

Hold up and wait a minute!

There may be an opportunity for Wash. U. to get out of this and just look like a bunch of assholes.

See, a bitch is pretty sure Phyllis is against universities.

Blink.

What?

I’m serious!

The woman is about as anti-intellectual you can get…personally, a bitch thinks she’s worthy of reclassification as an Australopithecine but that’s for another post.

Anyhoo, odds are that sanctimonious throw-back will decline the honorary degree.

Come to think of it, I can’t think of an angle she could use to justify accepting it!

Wash. U. offers a domestic partner benefit program. Lawd knows Schlafly is seriously allergic to equality in the workplace. Accepting an honorary degree from a university that extends benefits to same-sex partners may throw her rancid ass into some sort of equality shock!

Wash. U. employs women.

What?

Given her history that alone should kill the deal.

And Wash. U. has a Women and Gender studies program too. Unacceptable in the Land of Schlafly!

Last but not least…

Wash. U. has an Anthropology program…pause to increase the drama…and they teach the chil’ren about EVOLUTION there (gasp)!

Mmmhmm, the only way Phyllis Schlafly can accept an honorary degree from Wash. U. is if she’s a complete hypocritical fraud who promotes hate for personal gain and not out of misplaced moral conviction.

So...has she turned it down yet?

***cue crickets***