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Jonathan Capehart, a blogger for the Washington Post, did a piece today on the viral sensation that is Antoine Dodson (pictured holding baby). Dodson, whose sister was the victim of a violent crime, was interviewed by his local news station after the incident. You know those interviews. The one's where you shake your head, cover your eyes and hope that white people aren't watching.
No one was prepared when the victim's brother, wearing a kerchief about his head and ready for his close-up, took center stage and told a local Huntsville, Ala., news reporter exactly what was on his mind.
A news report about the attempted rape unfortunately became fodder for many and found its way to in-boxes across the world. Dodson, who came to his sister's defense, became an instant Internet sensation.
Some viewers called in to WAFF-TV to complain that "interviews with people like Antoine reflects poorly on the community."
People like Antoine?
It's so funny to see mainstream black folks attempt to publicly explain what it is about this clip being on the evening news that bothers them. They refuse to use the word "ghetto," "queen," "gay,"embarrassing" or "niggas." I think it's amazing. Just for fun, I tried to describe the clip in one sentence not using any of those words. Couldn't do it.
It's ok, black folks. Calm down. Seeing people acting "ghetto" and "foolish" on the evening news is nothing new. Not sure how this made the Washington Post. Individuals in our communities have been embarrassing the black race for decades, but now, our local embarrassments have gone international. This creates a dilemma for us.
See, it's easy to sit around with your friends and laugh (or cry) about this, but it's harder to chat with Susie May about it when she sends the YouTube link around the office, where you are the only black person.
Are you supposed to act offended (though you're really not)? Do you laugh with others (and feel like a Tom)?
Ahhh...the lovely duality of being black and American. You want to support your community, but at the same time, you think some things are ignorant as hell, too.
But you don't want to give white folks ammunition, so you say nothing. Except to each other. It's just the way of post-racial USA. Give us another 300 years, we'll figure it all out.
It's like the guy who just shot up the beer factory in Connecticut. Now tell me, how many of you heard that story and thought to yourself, "Please don't be black."
As for me, I stopped caring about what white folks thought a long time ago. So while the rest of you parse words and feign outrage, I'll be somewhere laughing my ass off at the fabulous ghetto queen that is Antoine Dodson. Now run tell dat.
Comments: (18)
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By: Vera on 8/04/2010 10:23PM
If Antoine is comfortable with himself then who are we to judge otherwise??? Yes, the news clip was funny because of the stereotypical imagery. Even so, he was serious about wanting the attempted rapist caught, and I can't wait to hear his response when the person is caught, if the police department is doing their job. Home invasion is a very serious crime regardless of where you live.
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By: Dimples on 8/05/2010 4:33PM
Exactly. People like Antoine are not the ones out here raping and killing other black people.
He like other decent folks does not want to live in danger and fear.
Black folks are quick to ostracize a gay person but will defend to the death the knucklehead young black men responsible for so much bloodshed in the streets.
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By: michellesmith smith on 8/05/2010 1:52AM
I love T-Pain! He doesn't use autotune to sound good like SOME artists, he uses it because that's his style of singing.
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By: Charles on 8/05/2010 4:39AM
I use to let stuff like this bother me then I grew up and thought why should I be bothered I dont know them . I remember a old person telling me how embarassing it was when Joe Louis used the wrong word in an interview they said to the whole race it was a put down . I thought why should we be bothered for someone elses grammer. You dont see white people feeling embarass over the things other people do so why should I . We wanted to be thought of as being just as good well here we are deal with it.
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By: chrispeterson on 8/05/2010 7:16AM
I agree with you girl, Antoine autotune is the ish. First time I saw him, I was like is this real? He just embarrassed himself......I love it!
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By: Corey on 8/05/2010 4:13PM
Antoine was just keeping it real! Which some people don't know how to do. They spend their life trying to impress people who don't give a sh@t about them.
How was he supposed to "act" when being interviewed about someone breaking into his home and attacking his sister? What difference does it make how he "talked and what he "said"?
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By: sunny :) on 8/06/2010 5:32AM
At first when I saw the news clip, I thought that why on earth would they put this on the news. It only perpetuates stereotypes, nothing else. But then it grew on me. This man is just doing him. Whether some people might call him ghetto or other names, this is he who is and that doesn't affect nor should affect the perception of black people. Come on, give me a break. He was obviously angry at the rapist and he spoke out his message. What else can we want?
ANTOINE DODSON 2012
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By: clarke on 8/08/2010 2:00PM
I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYONE IS SUPRISED. THIS PERSON, AS SAD AS HE IS, WAS TAYLOR MADE FOR TODAY'S SO-CALLED "NEWS" MEDIA. THIS IS THE IMAGE THAT THOSE IN POWER WANT TO PORTRAY OF THE BLACK MALE. EITHER YOU ARE A MURDERING, RAPING THUG, OR A SISSYFIED FLAMBOYANT HOMOSEXUAL. IN THIS INCIDENT THEY GOT BOTH IN ONE SHOT. SO YOU KNOW THEY WERE GOING TO PUT THIS IDIOT ON CAMERA. REMEMBER ACCORDING TO THOSE EXPERTS OF ALL THINGS BLACK MALE, DL HUGHLEY AND SHERRI SHEPPARD ALL YOU DOWNLOW BROTHERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC.
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By: ael on 8/08/2010 4:50PM
I came to this blog from a link on a blog I view from time to time. When I saw Antoine for the first time I saw an angry young man who had just been through a terrifying ordeal. I did not see a stereotype. Of course he was speaking with emotion, not thinking first. Who wouldn't freshly after an ordeal like that? I felt bad for the family and wondered how that child would be able to sleep again. Children typically crawl into bed with a parent when they are frightened. That little girl will never have that comfort again. It made me sad. (Seems to me that many are forgetting the faces of the victims)
The second time I saw the Antoine clip I became angry that suddenly these victims were to be considered an embarrassment to the community. So sweeping those living in poverty under the rug simply because they do not fit an image some in the community might wish to portray is acceptable? I don't think so!!! Every town in every state has citizens who fall below poverty lines, who are uneducated or under educated. Hiding them away does not mean they do not exist, having the same rights as every American citizen.
If any American finds the Dodson's obvious lack of education or their financial situation to be an embarrassment to the community then I challenge that person to stand up, walk away from the computer and get out there to activily do something to change the life of an impoverished child. Not likely, it is far easier to complain about being embarrassed over a perpetuated stereotype by the white folks in the media than to get ones hands dirty by getting into the community and teaching a child to read. Or showing them a strong black role model who succeeded through education.
Would people really be fine with a Black American family being censored because of perceived stereotypes? Really? Silence the voice of a victim for no other reason then they are not educated enough to be heard? They don't fit the mold we have in mind, so let us censor them? Maybe the next victim will be a better fit for the news? I prefer America moving forward not stepping back...
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