1863, 1963 and 2013

Here’s why this day, this year, this inauguration is so exciting and special. When our first African-American President is sworn in for a second term he will acknowledge several important historic events and ideals converging. The alignment is amazing. President Obama will be sworn in on two Bibles: one that was once owned by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. will sit on top of another previously owned by President Abraham Lincoln. This year is 150 years since the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln which freed the slaves in the Confederate States and Territories (January 1, 1863). This … Continue reading 1863, 1963 and 2013

Big Fat Liar or Just An Idiot

Have you been following this whole Manti Te’o/Dead-Girlfriend-He-Never-Met story? This thing is a hoot! With each passing day it keeps getting deeper and more bizarre. Yesterday, the Heisman Trophy runner-up sat down with ESPN after having avoided the media since the news broke on Deadspin.com that his dead girlfriend was all a hoax. In the 2 1/2 hour interview it was reported that Te’o denied any involvement in the hoax. Also, Te’o said he was finally convinced the fake girlfriend, “Lennay Kekua,” never existed until Wednesday, when Ronaiah Tuiasosopo called and admitted he was behind the hoax. Tuiasosopo had passed himself to … Continue reading Big Fat Liar or Just An Idiot

The original colored Superman suit.

This is a surviving suit worn by George Reeve as Superman on “The Adventures of Superman” TV series. It’s pretty sweet. The suit is housed in the basement of the Smithsonian in DC. Recently, a GOP Congressman who voted against funding for Hurricane Sandy victims, used the fact that the Smithsonian needed a new roof. Since the suit is supposedly indestructible – why don’t we use it to patch up any holes for the time being and support relief for New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Continue reading The original colored Superman suit.

It’s 2013 and My President is Black or Why I Don’t Need Quentin Tarantino to Give Me Racial Pride

Recently, I heard an interview Quentin Tarantino did with Terry Gross of NPR’s FRESH AIR. It wasn’t one of Terry’s best. She let Tarantino ramble on about his love of Blaxploitation films and other minutia. One of the tangents he went off on was critiquing famous American directors. Tarantino stated said he hated film director John Ford. You know, four-time, Oscar-winning director JOHN FORD. Yeah, that John Ford. Ford is best know, but not exclusively, for his westerns. Tarantino doubled down on his criticisms by saying “Ford was a racist!” I waited to hear Tarantino give an explanation why he considered Ford … Continue reading It’s 2013 and My President is Black or Why I Don’t Need Quentin Tarantino to Give Me Racial Pride