“i-i-i-i-i get that white boy money”

the words that music artist, the-dream, uses to communicate the fact that he is wealthy jars me and i have to listen again to make sure i heard it correctly. and again, “i-i-i-i-i get that white boy money.” and, while it is “all good and dandy’ that the associations of ‘white america’ are typically so positive, it reminds me that the associations for ‘black america” are usually quite the opposite. my mind wanders over some of the recent african-american stories over the last two weeks such as:

• harvard professor henry louis gates jr., one of the nation’s pre-eminent African-American scholars, who was arrested for breaking into his own home
• the racist comments that were made about the young african-american children at the private swim club that also canceled their swimming privileges.
• the recent tv spot that was brought to my attention that portrays african-american woman is a very stereotypical light

the associations, the headlines, the portrayal of african-americans in the media-all of this makes me think that african-americans are probably in the need of a rebranding effort. but who is responsible for managing the african-american brand? whoever you are, please stand up.

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