UPDATE
I just recevied a press release regarding the nomination process for the Image Awards:
- Members of the black conservative organization Project 21 are applauding the NAACP for "seeing the light" by determining that a morals clause may be warranted for future NAACP "Image Award" nominations.
The goal of the NAACP's annual Image Awards is to honor "those who strive for the portrayal of positive images and meaningful opportunities for African-Americans."
Project 21 played a leading role in bringing public attention to the NAACP's nomination of controversial musician R. Kelly for an Image Award this year in the best album category.
R. Kelly — Robert Sylvester Kelly — was nominated in the "Outstanding Album" category for his 2003 "Chocolate Factory" album. However, the musician made headlines in 2002 for his indictment on 21 child pornography counts (seven of which have since been dropped) in Illinois. He's also facing child pornography charges in Florida.
Appearing on the Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor" on January 14, Project 21 member Mychal Massie questioned the appropriateness of honoring Kelly at this time, and called the NAACP "out of touch" with the needs of black America. Subsequent criticism from Project 21 of the NAACP on this matter appeared in more than 95 African-American and establishment newspapers, magazines and entertainment industry websites.
As recently as a month ago, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume defended the process by which R. Kelly was nominated. Mfume's position now has changed — for the better, says Project 21.
....At its quarterly board meeting on February 21, the NAACP leadership began a process to change the way artists will be nominated for future Image Awards. Admitting that many past nominees "fail to meet the standards for positive images," Mfume said, "It's more important that Image Awards nominees be able to do more than sing, dance, write and act."
Project 21 member Massie responds to Mfume's and the NAACP leadership's change of heart: "We are pleased that the more rational elements with the NAACP have prevailed and are looking into a morals clause pursuant to the goals of the Image Awards. It should be viewed as nothing less than lamentable that an organization with such an august beginning allowed irrational minds to permit this embarrassment to happen in the first place."
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Shark
I'm surprised the Religious Right wasn't there to protest:
Luther Vandross songs are prorbaly responsible for more gay marriages than all the mayors in California and New York combined.
2 - duane
The term "exemplary works" denotes "examples" of something in the realm of human affairs. For example, my scrambled eggs this morning were exemplary of the culinary arts. But the term connotes something held up as an ideal which we would do well to emulate. Does the NAACP really want to claim that pop stars and actors represent the highest form of human achievement available to the black community? Evidently. Why is that? I don't get it.
3 - Eric Olsen
Duane, please note the update - it is not unrelated to your comment.
4 - duane
Thanks for the heads up, Eric. Well, I'd have to agree with the Project 21 position on this. Beyond that, I guess I can partly answer my own question from above by noting that for someone to win an image award, they have to have an image in the eyes of a substantial fraction of the public. This -- and I think it's unfortunate -- brings it to celebrities, athletes, and -- maybe not so unfortunately -- politicians. I doubt that they would endorse a politician, since partisanship would likely cloud the issue. But I'm not sure that they haven't included politicians in the past. However, I think it's ultimately useless, and probably harmful, to set up celebhood as a desirable goal. There just isn't enough room for millions of Luthers.
5 - Eric Olsen
This is an age-old issue of celebrating sports and entertainment stars vs. more practical and reachable professions like teachers, doctors, lawyers, business people, etc.
6 - Sandra Smallson
Duane, i will come to you in a second. First, How Fighting temptations can win any award whatsoever remains a mystery. Bernie Mac is the funniest male comedian in the world in my opinion. He never fails to crack me up and its a shame E4 have not carried on showing the Bernie mac show here in the UK.
The NAACP can nominate Rkelly as many times as they want. The Academy nominated Roman Polanski. End of story.
Duane, you seem to have a problem with pop stars and actors, just celebrity I guess. You need to chill out. Pop stars or actors have every right to be considered in such awards. None of them claim to be brain surgeons or heart transplant surgeons saving lives day in day out. However, they do have an important part to play in our world. Atleast, some of them do. I don't think they claim to represent the highest form of human achievement. Who represents the highest form of human achievement? Whatever group of people you mention, there will be another group that think they deserve it. Thats life.
However, if black people, less privileged, see their fellow brothers/sisters making it in Hollywood, acting or singing, making money, helping charities, gaining respect instead of selling drugs or burglary or whatever negative thing you can think of, who are you to tell them that because these people are simply pop stars or actors they do not deserve to be awarded for inspiring optimism and positive thinking in others?!
The award says what it is. Project 21 need to stop making a nuisance of themselves. Any black person who projects a positive outlook on life and is an inspiration to the black community whatever their profession deserves to be nominated for this award.
7 - Eric Olsen
Sandra, I don't have a profound disagreement with you on this, but surely you can't tell me that a series of awards called "Image" shouldn't take, um, IMAGE, into account. It was hardly unreasonable for a black group to say that an accused serial statutory rapist (this was hardly the first time - he was diddling Aaliyah when she was 15) might not be an image they would like to see celebrated.
These awards celebrate the PERSON, the Academy Awards, to use your example, celebrate the achievement - huge difference.
8 - Shark
"...if black people...see their fellow brothers/sisters making it in Hollywood...helping charities, gaining respect instead of selling drugs or burglary or whatever negative thing you can think of..."
It's marketing, plain and simple.
And there are better levels of "respect" that the kind one gets for being a meat puppet in Hollywood.
If they wanted to reward "Image" they migh pick successful blacks in any field OTHER THAN HOLLYWOOD OR SPORTS.
Any minds on their list other than Toni Morrison? Just curious.
9 - Dave
Did any white people win? I guess we were excluded. That's racism. I forgot, only white people can be racisit.
R Kelly is a child loving pervert, Michael Jackson is a black " wanna be white" child molester. Oh yeah. Bernie Mac is a fucking idiot. He's the reason the last Charlie's Angels movie flopped. Only the "white women loving brotha's"want to see a black dude around nice looking white women. Doesn't it bother the black ladies that white women are preferred over all other ethnic groups combined. Sad but statistically true.
They deserve these awards. It's the only time Denzel and all his other homies can win anything. The public, by going to the types of movies they do' and the box office ratings are the reason they lose over others. C'mon. Who is going to get excited about a man "Denzel" holding a hospital hostage so his son can get a fucking brain transplant or whatever it was. And what about Morgan Freeman? Notice how he's always playing the role of a "retired or ex-something" who's older and wiser and his services are always in need, but he's never thrilled about comung out of retirment. Of course I wouldn't mind banging the crap out of Hallie Berry and I would eat Beyonce' like a tossed salad.
10 - Eric Olsen
Has the cheese man returned? No, he would never offer to consume Beyonce or couple with Halle Berry, both of whom, I am certain, would be flattered into a swoon over such an admission by a white man - any white man.
11 - Sandra Smallson
Duane: It seems no matter what topic you and I are on, it will all boil down to the same thing. You spend your time generalising about a whole load of things because of supposed experience etc that you claim to have. I take each thing on its merit or not. There you are, saying..those meat muppets in Hollywood. Ofcourse, respect varies according to what it is that you are being respected for. Respect however, is respect. As long as one is respected in ones own field, there is no need for anyone to be envious of the respect another person gets. What does Luther vandross care that Colin Powell is a respected Politician. Luther is not a politician, he is a musician, thats what he does, and he is respected for that. If that means a person called Duane credits powell or whoever more than he would credit a musician or an actor, so be it. Thats life, dear Duane.
You can keep on rating degrees of respect if it makes you feel more intelligent than you are. Then you refer to minds..what makes you think that because a person is an actor or a sportsperson, they may not be a great mind? Your outlook on life and human beings is so limited and narrow, I can't imagine how you go on. Your bitterness towards these people must be worrying for those around you. Its okay to dislike certain individuals. Nevertheless, your tendency to class a collection of people under headings of profession, or what they like, or what their creative output is, and use those self made headings to jusge them as categorically as you do is truly a matter that only you can resolve. You need to search within:)
I respect teh doctor who performed life saving surgery on a young girl at the great ormond street hospital and saved her life. I respected Barry White as a brilliant musician. Now, why I should be incensed that an award show has chosen to award Barry White and not this young black doctor saving childrens lives, esacpes me. Why I should feel the need to insult the minds or the deeds of someone in Barry Whites field esacpes me. I don't know what you get from all that anger. The doctor can not write the songs that Barry White writes. Barry white could not have performed a bone marrow transplant. I do not think that now makes Barry White a lesser mind simply beacuse some in society may view a bone marrow transplant as more difficult as writing music. It probably is more difficult and perhaps more important but that doesn't make Barry unworthy to receive any accolade that comes his way simply because there are people out there saving lives. There are people out there writing articles that expose civil unrest/corruption etc that change lives in countries and are far more important than any of Toni Morrisons offerings. This does not prevent the Toni Morrison you praise from collecting an award for her literary work.
12 - Sandra Smallson
Eric, ofcourse they should take image into consideration. Ofcourse it does not look right to be seen to be awarding a man who has been accused..lets all remember now Eric..accused of child molestation. Innocent until proven guilty. The point that the Academy awards achievement is weak. Are you telling me that if Sadaam spent his time in jail, or Osama in his cave, or the Washington sniper in his cell, writing a screenplay , you would have no problem with the Academy nominating or awarding them with Oscars?
In the entertainment business, image and achievement work together. You of all people should know that, Eric. We have no idea what Toni Morrison does behind closed doors. We have no idea what Colin Powell does behind closed doors. All we know are the people we see in public life. The image we are led to believe is them. In the doing of whatever it is they do, they portray an image and that is what we know. To distingusih b/w image and achievement in this instance makes no sense. Michael Jordan is an inspiration to black boys. Nevermind that he allegedly cheats on his wife regularly. He is an inspiration because he is a great sportsperson and uses his celebrity to help others less privileged. Thats his image intertwined with what he does which led to his achievements. They are all linked.
Dave: You do not deserve a response. Your post is a complete nonsense and I pity you.
13 - Sandra Smallson
Forgive my keyboard dyslexia at certain points in my posts...teh,,becuase,,etc..I have no idea why that happens:) Perhaps it's because I type with 5 fingers on the right and a thumb on the left:)
14 - Roger
About Dave and not deserving a response, well all I have to say that it is pretty much accurate. I'm not discrimanatory to any gender, color or ethnic background, but somehow we have all female insitutions,all black institutions and every other program that is color or gender specific. If (in 2004)a white male decided to start a program that was open only (advertised) to white men all hell would break loose. You can't even open up a fucking Ice Cream stand without having to have both genders as well as every ethnic breed of human being that ever existed respresented in the company. Even if you only have a staff of two.
I'm sorry but I was in a position where I was forced to hire UNQUALIFIED minorities. Once tne two females (who happened to be friends)were hired they refused to wear a mandatory head covering because they spent $50 to $100 dollars every week on a new style. After only three weeks I was approached by both requesting that I only schedule them for 25 hrs or less a week because they were getting Government assistance and making too much money would cut out or affect the amount of the assistance. In fact when they were scheduled more than 25 hrs the bitch's would call in or sometimes not even show up. Finally I fired the lazy whores. I don't hire people just so they can make a little cash on the side for a new doo.
Fuck affirmative action. If you can't do the motherfucking job go learn a trade and do something beneficial instead of wasting valuable time of people smarter than you. I even put up with hearing excuses like "I got a flat on my way to do my drug screen", "can I do it next week"? One time I called a cab because there were three who rode in one car. They made it to the Piss Test. Two of the three failed and got fired.
Yeah, ask HollyWood why they chose Denzel to play that character of a man holding a hospital staff hostage because his son needed a transplant and not Tom Cruise or Harrison Ford.
15 - Shark
Sandra,
I don't want to break up the machine gun timing of your spiel, but meat puppets Toni Morrison and minds was mine.
SHARK. ~okay? Not duane.
And I'd address some of your points, but I couldn't really figure out what the heck you were saying.
Less coffee. More lucidity.
And brevity is a virtue.
Thanks,
SHARK
16 - Roger
Sandra: about comment/posting 13.
Maybe you should free a few of those right fingers from your vibrator and get that left thumb out of your asshole!
I know it might feel good to you, but you're not an Octipuss. Maybe you should get a good dog and a jar of peanut-butter. That might help you multi-task a little better.
17 - Mac Diva
Right after reading this entry, I thought I knew of who would be behind Project 21. I went directly to a site that details funding of far Right foundations and bingo! -- I was right. Project 21 is another of the efforts by the Olin, Bradley, Scaife and other far Right groups to appear to have minority followings. They pick someone of the right complexion, give him a little money and claim he represents some conservative minority presence. But, the 'group' is just a front for the views of the white far Right. A description of Project 21:
NCPPR's projects include Project 21, a conservative African American organization that opposes affirmative action and the minimum wage and has issued news releases in support of genetically modified foods. Project 21 has been funded by R.J. Reynolds, and it has lobbied in support of tobacco industry interests, opposing FDA regulation of the industry, excise taxes and other government policies to reduce tobacco use.
For Shark and others who are clueless about people of color, smoking and related health problems are much worse in among African-Americans, Hispanics and Indians.
I have blogged other groups sponsored by the same foundations at SR, but maybe it is time for an update. One name some of you will recognize is Walter Williams. He is also funded by the far Right foundations.
18 - Shark
MacDevil, here's where you're an embarrassment to the 'progressive' / 'left'.
Regardless of who is behind the R.Kelly flap, IT WAS ABOUT HONORING a friggin' KIDDIE PORNOGRAPHER FOR AN IMAGE AWARD.
Does that strike you as ODD? You're not shocked because the people who pointed it out are 'conservative'??!
That's the shock, lady. You're blinded by your mindless ideology.
If the organization (NAACP) had NOT been black, the 'artists' had not been black, and some child pornographer or wife-abuser had been honored by an IMAGE award, I should think you'd be all over it with your typical insane outrage. "Misogynist! Child Abuser! White men exploiting the less powerful minorities!"
HYPOCRITE doesn't even cover your sorry ass. You are the most rigid, bigoted, and ignorant person on this board.
We need a new word for you!
HYPERCRITE! Yeah, that's you.
For Shark and others who are clueless about people of color, smoking and related health problems are much worse in among African-Americans, Hispanics and Indians.
Gotta get the slur in, despite the fact that it has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REMOVAL OF A CHILD PORNO BOY FROM AN IMAGE AWARDS CEREMONY.
Nice try, hypercrite.
19 - Mac Diva
LOL! 'Hypercrite'? Describes Psycho Shark fairly well. (Shaking head.) Not merely insane and stupid. He can't spell either.
20 - Al Barger
Also note that Walter Williams doesn't need funding from some nefarious group. He doesn't have or need any special money. He's a college professor and a popular author. He makes a living.
He doesn't need a bunch of special funding. He's an academic, not a politician- though I bet my Libertarian Party would JUMP at the chance to spend what little money we have on running him for president if he wanted to do so.
21 - Sandra Smallson
Really Roger? I coulda sworn it was Duane. Just change Duane for Roger as you go along which I note you have already done if not one would not be subjected to what I can only refer to as a moronic kindergarten taunt in your response to my post 13. Puhleeze, grow up! Did u think that was funny? Or did you think I was going to respond to that in kind? You are obviously easily excited and little minds often are.
I actually do not have any disagreement with some of what you have posted. How you think Dave's post supports what you have posted, is what escapes me. Maybe you share the same views as dave but your post is a totally different matter entirely.
I sympathise with the complaint of an award show being strictly for black people. I suspect they started it because they felt ignored during the mainstream awards. I have no problems with that complaint. I also have no problems with your complaint about affirmative action. You obviously have a particular case personal to you that has caused the disintegration of your brain so you are unable to reason like a normal person and have affiliated yourself to Dave's post which is nothing short of rantings from a demented ignorant mind.
Many times people have been forced to give jobs to lazy trailer trash white folk simply because they are white, when a well educated black person could have done the job. Now, you have the reverse happening because of affirmative action. It happens both ways. Its a problem. But the tendency of people on this board to generalise is a bigger problem.
As far as Denzel in his movie. It is this exact point of yours that confirmed to me that you need to be locked up for a few days till you regain your self. If a weapon were put in your hands right now, you would be a murderer. What a ridiculous point. How daft can you be? Even God could not have made you this stupid. You must have come into it all by yourself. Why did Hollywood make Christian Bale play the Psycho? Why Couldn't Will Smith play it? Why did Hollywood let Anthony Hopkins play Hannibal? Why couldn't they give it to Samuel Jackson? Why did Hollywood let Christopher Lee play dracula? Surely, Morgan Freeman could have done it. I mean this level of stupidity is unheard of. I really feel sorry for you and your cohorts if this is how y'all reason along with Dave.
If you are claiming that Denzel got that part because he was black and thats the sort of thing black people do..oh well, die by your own sword. Dracula, serial killers,etc, thats the sort of thing white people do anyway, thats why only white actors can play pedophiles etc because its predominantly a WHITE THING. How silly is that sort of reasoning?!
22 - Sandra Smallson
What they say is really true, if you get fools together no matter their distinct physical traits, it would be impossible to tell the difference. Now, Shark is the one I mistook for duane? Roger, I think I have now mistaken for Shark. Dear oh Dear:) Ok, Shark,take the first 13 or so words of Roger's post as meant for you. Phew! Here I am verbally brawling with these gutter rats and I am in total confusion as to who is who. Ok, back on track.. Shark, if you couldn't figure out what the heck I was talking about, why say anything to me at all? As far as your call for brevity, brevity may well be a virtue for princes but when I am responding to a complete fool such as yourself, surely its too great an expectation to request that anyone interacting with people with stunted minds to be brief all in the name of appearing virtuos? if ever there was a complete fool, it would be you my young imbecile.
By the way, I dont drink coffee, I drink tea. Thanks for asking.
23 - Natalie Davis
Pray that Dave -- who apparently thinks women rich in melanin are good for only one thing -- gets a brain, a heart, and a clue. Hell, he could be a one-man traveling companion for Dorothy Gale.
The unfortunate Dave writes: "They deserve these awards. It's the only time Denzel and all his other homies can win anything." Um, Denzel Washington has two Academy Awards. (I would imagine the esteemed actor would have "friends," not "homies.") Halle Berry has an Oscar. Whoopi Goldberg does too. Granted, the pigmentationally challenged don't win many, but every now and again, their talents are recognized by mainstreamers.
And he asks, "Did any white people win? I guess we were excluded."
Dave Matthews would be described by many as "white." He won an Image Award even though he is not "black." Same with Steven Spielberg, who won three. Then again, most of the winners aren't "black," either -- they are brown in hue.
Truth is, though, I am not and have never been wild about awards being centered around people of certain pigmentations (which means I don't like the Oscars either), and I certainly would not belong to a melanin-focused organization. But I do recall the not so recent past, when heavily pigmented humans did not have any shot at other awards -- that's why things such as the Image Awards came about. Are events such as the Image Awards and the Miss "Black" America contest or institutions such as "black" colleges useless now? There is a topic for debate...
Long live Luther! Especially if he is responsible for gay marriages.
As for R. Kelly, ewwwwwww. I believe he can -- and should -- fly. Far, far away.
24 - Roger
Natalie, and Sandra:
I am in no way racsist. I actually date a girl on occassions who is African American and in turn will double date with another bi--racial couple. Two of the three minority females that I spoke of in posting#14 were white. Every scenerio that I spoke of regarding me hiring was true. I fact one of my best employees was black. I would not have lost him for anything. In fact I secretly paid him 75 cents more on the hr than his white male counter part for being the best. I say what I say because it is true and can be backed up. My girlfriend Tina(the black lady)has similar views. She has her RN degree and didn't get extra points for her skin tone (she woludn't have needed it anyway). This business I was speaking about was a restaurant. Please answer a question for me. Would you put your job in jepordy over a few employees who refused to follow rules? What about having a couple of cocaine snorting "white trash" bitch's not showing up for work because too many hrs would put some of their "FREE" taxpayer money in Jepordy. If you owned your own business would you want to be forced to hire totally unqualified people when you had two excellant resume's on your desk? Run a fucking ad in the paper and hire these idiots to work for you.
Tina is a very smart and sexy lady' and she along with some other African American aquantinces don't beleive in affirmative action. As far as the movies it has been minorities complaining that they are not getting enough leading roles. Well it's all about $$$. The movie ratings and the actors and actresses in the films dictate who is cast in future films. Halle Berry is one of a few who has a proven tract record.Equal is equal.Denzel hasn't won that much because his films for the most part suck as determined by the box office ratings, not just a few people. Do your research on all of these topics and prove me wrong! Not in a single or isolated incident but find evidence to rebut my statements! Please...
25 - Eric Olsen
hmm