My Sunday Morning Rant
I stopped by the Community Values Summit this weekend at Charles Tinley Charter School on the east side. I was looking for an elected official to do a quick interview on something I was working on. I couldn’t find the official, but I did find something that I thought was a bit disturbing.
It wasn’t the Summit itself. I actually am very happy when members of the community and their local government officials get together to deal with local issues, particularly crime. There’s nothing better than when people step up to the plate and take charge.
What bothered me was the nature of a conversation I had with one local activist. The activist asked me if I would allow them to come on my morning radio program and talk about some of the things they’re doing to keep at-risk young Black men on the straight and narrow. I said sure, folks like you are always welcome. I was then told, and this is the kicker, that a significant portion of the Black activist community doesn’t trust me and consider me the “white people’s radio talk show host.” Say what?!
I told her you have to be kidding me? She told me “no.” I told the activist that I not just the radio talk show host for white people. Now I have some Democrats who think I am the radio talk show host for the local GOP, and the anti-smoking crowd say I’m the talk show host for the tobacco companies, but those are log posts for another time. I reminded her that my job is to talk about issues that face ALL people of Indianapolis and the surrounding area, not just white people. Some days we do a really great job, other days we could use a mulligan.
But what was most annoying, and I should know better by now, was that someone who is supposed be helping young black men get on the straight and narrow, would have an issue with a black man who exemplifies everything they want the young black men to be. Instead of being mad at the black man with the microphone, law degree and ears of local leaders, how about you tap him as a resource to talk and connect with some of these young guys who don’t have role models?! Instead of being mad at the guy who uses proper English, get mad at the people who use be in its infinitive form. And instead of getting mad a the guy who drives a nice car, get mad at the guys driving cars into day care centers!
I freely admit my personal political philosophy isn’t that of the typical black activist crowd, but I like to think we have the same goal; empower people to make decisions for themselves and live up to their full potential. Like I said it’s really annoying and at times frustrating to have to deal with people who look like me and are more upset about what I do for a living than the young guys who have my same skin color who are making living in their communities unbearable.
Unfortunately, it’s something I’ve had to live with all my adult life and I really shouldn’t be surprised to have to deal with it again. Oh well, I guess I can always hope for change.
Enjoy your day.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:52 am
There are days, unfortunately increasing in number, that I think you are absolutely full of it, Abdul. But, that's based on philosophical differences, choices in what to be analyzed and what to be left aside, disagreements in method, priorities, maybe implementation.
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But, there is NOBODY in this town (or in many, many towns) that does a better job in offering the public the airwaves they own in the first place, for the airing of opinion: black, white, purple, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Communist, rich, poor, ugly or beautiful. Your steadfast dedication to at least let the public use their own airwaves (and your blog), even if you might disagree with the matter at hand, is the ultimate realization of what a man with Public Affairs masters SHOULD be. There are damn few of you. Your work, despite your ego, is genuinely worthy of greater broadcast and civic recognition.
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Thank you (even though you're still full of it at times).
December 6th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Well, you've run smack up against the dominant African-American political theory here: what's good for Center Township is good for everyone.
That power structure is on its way out. The loud noises you hear are the sounds of that dynasty dying. Their last vestiges of power were Center Township and IPS. Both in shambles.
The trend has been going against that crowd for 15 or more years. Mostly via the ballot box, but they argue otherwise. Center has long lagged the other townships in voting percentages–often pathetically so. Because as long as they showed up by a few, their slate was the winner.
Those days are gone. Thankfully.
Keep speaking up and challenging. When a black man in this town doesn't toe the line according to dominant AA political thought, that crowd often does one of two things:
1. They send a dirt-digger to find nonsense on you, and spread it ferociously; or
2. Send Amos Brown to “speak for the community.”
Or both.
Your buddy Matt Tully wrote the best column of his life today. He accurately detailed the crisis that faces IPS. Those problems disproportionately affect the minority community. Even though the subject of his column was white, it didn't matter. The context was harsh and sad.
The dominant power structure has ruined IPS. It can never recover in its current incarnation. Their other main power source, township government, is badly wounded and won't survive longer.
Hang in there. Even when you're wrong, you're asking the right questions. It took someone from outside our community to move here and do that…hell Amos hasn't ever done it…the Recorder doesn't do it…the local media doesn't do it.
If the local A-A power structure doesn't trust you, I'd almost wear it like a badge of honor. Their leadership has been pathetic, with a few exceptions. The only winners in their strategy have been the elected office holders who've enriched themselves…often far beyond their ability to do so in the private sector.
But before your head gets big, you're still wrong on the smoking ordinance. But thought-provoking.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I agree with TA. Additionally, there is an undercurrent running among black churches that reinforce a horrible black culture of defeatism and a stereotype image of self-absorbed justification for youth misbehavior nearly as a badge of honor. As much as I disagree with Abdul's agnostic worldview, I have to wonder why he is not a guest speaker at minority classrooms that could some sobering advice for a non-prejudice society.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Abdul: I can't stand some of your political views. But you are one damn good friend who has the best interest of people at heart. Hell, you love kids just as much as I do. Keep up the good work. :-)
Jeffery C. White
December 6th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Abdul, your ties to the GOP makes you quite biased. Your cheeky remarks and lack of any fortitude to help uncover the corruption while drinking with enemies of our city shows your true resolve. It is no wonder why your radio show does not generate much interest in our community and that even the white people do not trust you. Face it, you are just an arms dealer without any arms. In your fantasy world, you think you are of substance, but the reality, you're just a scared little man with an ego the size of the Lucas Oil stadium.
I can only hope that you can distance yourself from crooks like Carl Brizzi, Tom Johns, and others and start acting like a real man, but we all know you and what you bring to our city. Luckily, the house cleaning is happening and the public will know after the release of the audio of the depths of corruption including the wheeling and dealing of our tax dollars and bonds which has turned our city into a joke to most of the world.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
BIAC,
For someone to talk about someone being afraid you didn't use your real name, but ironically we have your IP address. Enjoy your day.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
You are a stupid man!!! Hahahahha!
Good luck tracking me buddy. I am not some simple minded midwestern american. I can easily hide behind the internet and mask my identity. Even after this message is sent, my computer quickly deletes the footprints even if a forensic program reads my hard drive. I can even hide if you have tracking software on your website. You are only chasing ghosts.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Nah, probably just a spook. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
December 6th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
You had a real opportunity to show Indy's black youth that it wasn't all about color, then you supported Barack Obama because he's black. Imagine that!
December 6th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Wait a second, I have “ties to the GOP” too. I love my party. I don't like the elitist insider Republican types who took over Ballard's administration immediately after his election and are busy sticking as much money as they can in their pockets while not caring one whit about the future of the Marion County GOP. Their days running the GOP are numbered though. If Republicans are going to have any future in the Marion County party is going the party is going to have to become more of a good government populist party.
December 6th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Abdul,
Do you really think they don't like you because you speak good English?? Give me a break, it is this type of dismissive attitude that mirrors the attitude of most of the closeted racists white folks that black people can not stand.
Instead of repeating those tired excuses you should have ask why the certain organization believes the way they do.
As you say stereotypes come about for a reason. Most of them start out with a bit of truth.
The more and more I listen to you and read your comments I realize why you aren't really taken seriously by white people or at least not as much as you think.
Have fun in your wonderland.
December 6th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
We got our change!
It's the same.
Hahaha!
Abudud voted for Obama!
December 6th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Good for you? Sounds like an awful lot of work to hide who you are while espousing your opinion. If you are going to talk the talk why not stand up and say who you are while doing it? I am sure Abdul has much better things to do than worry about tracking you.
December 6th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
” Their leadership has been pathetic, with a few exceptions.” Assuming you are not just cya it would be worthwhile to know just who those exceptions were (if they are still living). While it is not in the same field, Buber's observation that every unchaining is succeeded by a new one” comes to mind. Indianapolis blacks, in particular, were used (as were all of them) by the false promises of segregration demolished. Folks interested will find all they need in Chapter 11, footnote 1, Losing Ground. Having given away a lot of gold and the promise of gold, the rubes have discovered it was brass, and low grade brass at that, and, a lot less that what was promised. The real rubes still cling to the myth.
December 6th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Wow, I take my wife to dinner and this is what I get when I'm gone. Have some of you guys ever thought about eharmony or match.com. It would give you something to do on Sunday as opposed to just play on the computer.
And BIAC, if you are such the master computer genius, why do all your posts today come from IP address: 173.89.75.189? I figured you'd have switched it up a bit.
December 6th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Think deeply, act superficially? The bigotry of coercion is color blind, in a clubby kinda way.
December 6th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Abdul, your comment today both blows me away and, yet, doesn't surprise me.
As a white man, I have sat in classrooms with African-American activists who have told me that Dr. Martin Luther King was wrong…we shouldn't be “color-blind”, nor should we judge people based on the content of their character instead of the color of their skin. I have also been told that being “black” excuses everything…as long as it's being done to “help blacks”. That is, unfortunately, why you are getting less respect than an armed robber who runs their getaway car into a daycare. You are being a husband, a lawyer, a journalist, or a businessman first rather than being black first.
As a reader and listener, I appreciate that from you. When I speak, write, or work, I don't want to put skin color first and it amazes me that Dr. King's legacy of character over color is being tossed away after all the work he did. I know it's coming from just a white guy, but you're doing just fine, Abdul. Keep being who you are.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
I get the feeling “white people’s radio talk show host” is a long-winded way of saying 'Uncle Tom'. Which is especially disheartening coming from someone who's just asked for, and been given, airtime to promote their worthy cause.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:51 am
I knew ya when you were just a little old talk show host in Indy, Abdul. You'll do just fine in the future. Don't worry about these pesky hypocrites.
But you're still wrong on the smoking ban.
Pascal: my nominees for “exceptions to the rule”, because you asked:
Julia Carson, during her tenure as trustee. True, I detest the township government system. But Julia made it work correctly, or as much as possible. She turned around a broken office and insisted that assistance recipients prove their status and work for some of their aid.
And when she ran for Congress, she took out Ann Delaney, which is sitll my favorite local political move in the last 25 years. Almost all of Evan Bayh's folks were behind Ann. Julia laid low and clobbered Ann.
Another nominee: Mike Rodman. Our county treasurer is actually qualified for the office he holds. Imagine that. He didn't need the njob for the paycheck.
I'll try to think of more.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Abdul, I know this may seem petty but. In keeping with your theme dont you think a man who is educated, a lawyer, a spokesman for the community ect. should refrain from using terms such as “majorly”. I know this and similar terms are frequently used but they are gramatically wrong and examples of what not to say instead of the proper form of speech.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:12 am
The first sentence of your post was an incomplete sentence. The last sentence of your post is missing a comma.
How about we address the substance of the posts? And, yes, it does seem petty.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
HOLY MOLY !!! I agree with EVERYTHING that TA posted above, EXCEPT his last sentence.
Is Hell freezing over ?????
December 7th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
BIAC, while I don't agree with some of Abdul's positions, and we actually yell at each other on-air, I think you are wrong in your above 'rant'.
And, based upon your purported steps to obscure your identity, you come off as a coward.
Just sayin'…
December 7th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
HOLY MOLY !!! I agree with EVERYTHING that TA posted above, EXCEPT his last sentence.
Is Hell freezing over ?????
December 7th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
BIAC, while I don't agree with some of Abdul's positions, and we actually yell at each other on-air, I think you are wrong in your above 'rant'.
And, based upon your purported steps to obscure your identity, you come off as a coward.
Just sayin'…