I don't know why this popped into my head, but I know it says something about black male/female relationships. I just don't know what.
Many moons ago, when I was a single man and on the dating scene, invariably the conversation would veer to discussions of books and culture.
I remember telling one young lady that I liked science fiction. She scoffed. Homegirl was on some ole Michelle Wallace "Black Macho", Alice Walker "Color Purple", Ntozake Shange "Colored Girls" tip.
This was around maybe 1983, right out of college. I tried to tell ole girl about black sci-fi authors, George Schuyler, Charles Saunders, Samuel Delany and Octavia Butler, in particular I tried to school her about Butler's Kindred, Mind of My Mind and Wild Seed.
This pseudo intellectual sister dissed my sci-fi sensibilities, wondering out loud why a brotha would read that, and why would a black person write that.
Years later, Essence did something about Octavia Butler, so of course when Essence speaks, black women listen and Octavia B got a big following. I was happy to see that. So one day I'm on the E train and guess what? I see that same sista, rockin Octavia's "Kindred". I started to walk up and say something to her, but just let it slide shaking my head from across the train.
Point is, homegirl was not trying to hear anything from a brother when it came to the intellect. Now I know this isn't a sweeping indictment and I know that we all go through phases in life, but I wonder how many sisters close their minds, and can only have things validated by what they perceive are their reliable sources--ahem Essence magazine.
Just a thought. Hit me back I'm curious.
Reverse the Charges
Octavia Butler Blues...
by Roland Laird
Feb 1, 2010
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About this blog:
POSRO isn't a household word in American culture, but it has been featured in publications as varied as The Source magazine and The New York Times.
For those of you that know--and those of you that don't--the name is a play on the word NEGRO. We took away the NEG-ative prefix and replaced it with a POS-itive one. We "Reversed The Charges" so to speak.
Reversing the negative charges in the thought processes that go into the coverage Black people receive in the media, even in the age of Obama, is what this blog is all about.
The subject matter will vary as the mood hits me One day I may be talking sports. The next day local news in Trenton, NJ. But no matter what I talk about, I promise to be honest, respectful and entertaining. I hope you enjoy reading in the days, weeks, months and years to come.
About this blog:
POSRO isn't a household word in American culture, but it has been featured in publications as varied as The Source magazine and The New York Times.
For those of you that know--and those of you that don't--the name is a play on the word NEGRO. We took away the NEG-ative prefix and replaced it with a POS-itive one. We "Reversed The Charges" so to speak.
Reversing the negative charges in the thought processes that go into the coverage Black people receive in the media, even in the age of Obama, is what this blog is all about.
The subject matter will vary as the mood hits me One day I may be talking sports. The next day local news in Trenton, NJ. But no matter what I talk about, I promise to be honest, respectful and entertaining. I hope you enjoy reading in the days, weeks, months and years to come.
