A8 MARCH 10-16, 2010 OPINION NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Mo’Nique’s Oscar
Judge Greg Mathis
victory and setback
Commentary
(NNPA)—The Reagan when he
comedienne, talk Julianne Malveaux was governor of Cal-
show host and ac- ifornia, reinforced in
tress Mo’Nique has 1996 when Presi-
become just the fifth dent Bill Clinton
African-American
Commentary
supported “welfare
woman to win an reform (I called it
Fight
Oscar. Her portrayal deform) legislation,
of Mary Jones, the is one of the ugly
revolting and de- urban legends that
praved mother of seems to shape per-
campus
Precious, was arguably masterful, and she ceptions of African-American women.
now joins Hattie McDaniel (who played a And ain’t I a woman, Sojourner Truth
Guest Editorial
maid), Halle Berry (who played a sex- might say. Aren’t there positive dramatic
starved fool), Whoopi Goldberg (who roles for African-American women in Hol-
racism
played a medium in “Ghost”), and Jen- lywood?
nifer Hudson (who played a singer). To be sure, every character in “Precious” Since the election of
I mention the roles that African-Ameri- is not a negative stereotype. Mariah President Obama, we’ve
Congress should pass
can women played to win their Oscars be- Carey’s role as a social worker was a pitch seen a resurgence of
cause the roles African-American women perfect depiction of an overworked and racism in every sector of
get in Hollywood are too frequently somewhat harried helping professional society. From growing
health care reform bill
stereotypical, and it is these stereotypical with too large a caseload. Paula Patton websites that allow users
performances that are often lifted up. plays teacher Miss Blu Rain in a way that to spew anonymously to
While I am glad for Mo’Nique’s victory, I reminded me of my best teachers, those on-air personalities shar-
did not relish the “Precious” story of wel- who went the extra mile. There are other ing their prejudiced views
President Obama is right to urge Democrats to move
fare pathology making it to the screen. characters with redeeming social value in with others, the displays
quickly to pass comprehensive health care reform legisla-
Why not more positive roles for African- the movie, but there would have to be have been, to say the
least, disturbing. Many
tion. There has been months of debate on this issue. All
American women? given the pervasive degeneracy of Mary
Sandra Bullock, for example, won Best Jones. people believe these types
sides have been heard.
Actress for her role in “The Blind Side.” I would love to see someone green light of acts are carried out by
Attempts at a bipartisan compromise have failed. She played a White mother who took a the story of Madame C.J. Walker, our na- lower class, uneducated
The recent health care reform summit hosted by the pres-
Black child into her home and helped him tion’s first Black woman millionaire. people, not yet aligned
ident between top Democratic and Republican leadership in
reach football stardom. Why no roles like There’s some glamour there, and some with modern views of tol-
the House and Senate shows that the two major parties
that for Black women? While “The Blind drama! What about the story of Ida B. erance. The most recent
Side” is based on a true story, there are Wells, who had to flee the state of Ten- incident, which took place
have fundamental differences on health care reform that
countless true stories of African-American nessee because of her anti-lynching writ- on a college campus, may
will not be overcome with more time.
women who take in relatives or other peo- ing. In a contemporary context, why not change all of our views on
Now is the time to vote. ple’s children and move mountains for tell the story of Cathy Liggins Hughes,
that.
The president must use all his persuasive skills to con-
them. This might send the wrong message the millionaire owner of Radio One who In February, students at
vince wavering Democrats and explain to a skeptical public
about Black women, though. It might sug- slept in her studio because she couldn’t af- the University of Califor-
nia at San Diego held an
how the proposed health care overhaul plan will be good
gest that we believe that it takes a village ford rent and the cost of station opera-
to raise a child, instead of highlighting tions. These are dramatic stories, but they off-campus party where
for the nation.
the bestial way that Mary Jones treated fly in the face of the stereotypes that were guests were encouraged
Liberal and moderate Democrats in both the House and Precious. replete in “Precious.” to wear gold teeth, mock-
Senate should resolve their differences since it is unlikely
I know, I know, it’s all about the Ben- I don’t begrudge Mo’Nique her Oscar. ing rappers from Comp-
they will get Republicans to join them in passing health
jamins, and those who have the power to She took the material she was given and ton, California, and to
care reform legislation.
“green light” films don’t think that people she worked it. She made Mary Jones a re- dress in baggy clothing
will go see a movie with positive depic- pulsive character with absolutely no re- style that is popular
“All the Democratic plans are similar: expand coverage
tions of African-American people. “Pre- deeming social value. I am simply frus- among today’s urban
and reduce costs,” reports PolitifFact, a nonpartisan fact-
cious,” for all its pathology, didn’t have an trated that these are the only kinds of youth and wannabes.
checking website, sponsored by the St. Petersburg Times. easy time getting produced and, indeed, roles that Hollywood offers African-Ameri- Adding insult to injury,
“Compared with the Senate, the House plan is more am-
has 12 producers, including Oprah Win- can women, the only kinds of roles that the party’s hosts served
bitious in its regulation of insurers and generous in its tax
frey and Tyler Perry, who helped promote Oscar chooses to lift up. I am frustrated up watermelon…repeat-
subsidies to low-income people, “said Politifact in a report
the film. The movie had a small, $10 mil- that some may consider Mary Jones’ bes- ing an age old—and over-
lion, production budget, and has earned tiality as typical, not atypical of African- done—slam on African-
titled “Health care reform: a simple explanation.” The report
only about $50 million, recouping produc- American women. Americans. To compound
adds: “Obama’s proposal seeks to bridge the gap between tion costs, but underscoring the modest When African-American women’s char- the situation, a campus
the two plans, but it takes more of its substance from the
level of resources available for this movie. acters in film are more reflective of our re- television show high-
Senate plan. Obama’s plan also adopts Republican ideas on
It rankles that an image of the fat, ality, and when these characters’ perfor- lighted the party on air
discouraging waste, fraud and abuse, especially in pro-
Black, slovenly welfare cheat is lifted up mances are lifted up by Oscar, then we and used a racial slur to
even at a time when public assistance will have come a long way, baby. Until refer to Black students.
grams like Medicare, the government-run health insurance
rolls have been drastically cut, despite our then, Mo’Nique’s victory is her laudable As if things couldn’t get
program for seniors.”
economy. The myth of the welfare queen, personal success. It is a Black community worse, a student hung a
Democrats must go ahead with passing health care legisla- strongly promoted by President Ronald setback. noose from a bookcase in
tion with just votes from their party if necessary.
the campus library. Out-
Democrats cannot let Republicans, stoking fears and mis-
raged students thought
information about health care reform by calling it a “social-
the administration was
ist” government takeover, prevent them from acting.
Just in time: Obama targets
slow to react and kept too
low a profile as the events
Fear must be countered with facts. unfolded. They responded
If necessary, Democrats should use the reconciliation
process which would let the 59 Senate Democrats pass leg-
islation with a simple majority vote instead of a 60-vote
HBCUs for increased spending
to the perceived inaction
by holding a sit-in the
university Chancellor’s
office.
count.
(NNPA)—As the so many in this gen- Diversity is key in all as-
The Bush administration used reconciliation twice to pass proud graduate of
Ron Walters
eration have a far pects of life, especially in
tax cuts that mainly benefitted the rich.
an Historically more difficult time higher education settings.
Why can’t reconciliation be used to pass health care re-
Black University acquiring enroll- If students from homoge-
form to benefit working Americans?
and having worked ment, remaining en- nous communities are not
There is no reason why it cannot be used.
in one for most of
The president’s health care reform proposal is not a per-
Commentary
rolled and poten- exposed to a variety of
my academic career, tially graduating. cultures they may not be
I approve of Presi- While some ob- able to adjust and dispel
fect plan. dent Barack Obama servers have been the stereotypical images
There is no public option—a government-run health
having broken his focused on academic they may bring to the
plan—to compete with private insurers.
pledge not to govern performance as the table. Additionally, inter-
However, the Obama plan would provide Americans with
by race or ethnicity just in time to in- major factor in Black college retention acting with and, possibly,
crease spending for HBCUs. These insti- rates, economic factors have always been befriending someone from
greater consumer protections and a ban on discriminating
tutions are still vitally relevant to the pro- as important. a different culture may
against customers with preexisting conditions. Insurance
duction of a Black middle class because, The general increase in higher education lead a student to think
companies would no longer be able to drop patients’ cov- while they only constitute 3 percent of all funding will help those in non-HBCU insti- twice before saying or par-
erage if they become sick and insurers would be required
institutions of higher education, they tutions as well. The other shoe to drop has ticipating in something
to offer free preventive care to customers.
graduate 20 percent of all Black under- been the fact that most Black youths are in that is racially or cultur-
Failure to pass health care legislation would mean premi-
grads. state supported institutions, either four- ally offensive. Unfortu-
Announcing current increases in the FY year institutions or community colleges, nately, there has been a
ums will continue to skyrocket for consumers; coverage
2012 Federal Budget was Dr. John S. Wil- and state governments have chosen to cut lack of diversity in Cali-
costs will continue to increase for small businesses and mil- son, the new executive director of the education budgets deeply to balance their fornia colleges and univer-
lions of Americans will continue to lack health insurance.
White House Initiative on HBCUs, who budgets. This has caused a rise in the tu- sities since affirmative ac-
When deciding whether or not to pass health care reform
said that the president’s budget includes a ition rates, teacher furloughs and curricu- tion was struck down in
legislation, lawmakers should be reminded of the Harvard
$17 billion increase in Pell Grants, $400 lum reductions at many institutions. the state.
million of which was earmarked for In most states, the education budget is Currently, Black stu-
Medical School study published last year that links lack of
HBCUs. Last year, there was an uproar the largest funded item and cuts in places dents are disproportion-
coverage to about 45,000 deaths a year in the United
when it was discovered that the president such as California have recently drawn ately underrepresented in
States. took $85 million from the HBCU budget, very visible protests from students and the state’s universities.
The study found that people without health insurance had
but this year, rather than mandating it faculty. Federal funds given to states from Those who do enroll are
a 40 percent higher risk of death than those with private
for two years as the Bush administration the bank bailout have disproportionately truly minorities within
health insurance. The study found that the risk is increas-
had done, this sum is included in the gone to support K-12, such that while the the school; they should
President Obama’s budget for 10 years. latter has suffered a 3 percent decrease in not subject to racist acts
ing dramatically for the uninsured because public hospitals
There is also $98 million in new money funding in California, higher education or images. The University
have either closed or cut back on services. proposed for HBCUs that would fund has suffered a 5 percent decrease.
of California at San
Americans are dying for lack of coverage.
such things as financing for capital costs While states are grappling for solutions Diego—and universities
The time to act is now.
such as the repair and replacement of ed- to the problem of overall funding, I would and colleges nationwide—
(Reprinted from the Philadelphia Tribune.)
ucational facilities and equipment, and suggest they should look at the amount of should begin to offer
the building of physical infrastructure. spending involved in holding nonviolent mandatory diversity
There is also proposed $65.4 million for offenders in prisons. Some states are now training for first year stu-
the enhancement of graduate programs. beginning to look at alternatives to incar- dents. Furthermore,
NEW
Pittsburgh Courier
Wilson indicated that there is also $400 ceration more seriously than when they racist and offensive be-
million of additional funds in the educa- were just theoretical possibilities and havior should carry with
tion budget for institutions whose descrip- some are actually letting prisoners go. it a stiff penalty, not nec-
tion was close that of HBCUs some of The state of California is typical of essarily expulsion but
Founded 1910
which he intends to attempt to acquire. many where funding for the prison sys- perhaps extensive com-
One of the greatest areas of lack of tem has now overshadowed funding on munity service in an
growth in the federal budget, however, education, a situation that is not sustain- urban area.
Rod Doss has been in the funds generated by the able in terms of future economic develop- Colleges can and should
Editor & Publisher
government which goes to research at in- ment of the state or balancing its budget. work to shift and ulti-
stitutions of higher education. Some of it, While the governor says that now Califor- mately change prejudiced
Stephan A. Broadus
in such areas as energy, defense or agri- nia spends 10 percent on prisons and 7 behavior among students.
Assistant to the Publisher
culture, requires sophisticated engineer- percent on higher education, the most If it is not nipped in the
ing or scientific research facilities that alarming trend is that higher education bud on the campus level,
Ulish Carter Eric Gaines
most of these institutions do not have, but spending has been declining since the tax the racist ideals could
other grants in the social, administrative, limitation wars of the 1970s. It is time to grow and these young peo-
Managing Editor Advertising Manager
and economic areas should be achievable. break out of Republican-think-about-taxes ple, with their poisoned
This funding increase is also welcome and raise some revenue to fund higher ed- thoughts, could go on to
Allison Palm Jeff Marion
news in light of the current economic cri- ucation so that localities are not as depen- wreak more havoc in soci-
Office Manager Circulation Consultant
sis that threatens to continue the laggard dent upon the federal government. ety.
growth of the Black middle class. The un- Meanwhile, Mr. President, thanks for (Judge Greg Mathis is vice
John H. Sengstacke employment and home foreclosure crises the help for HBCUs in this crisis.
president of Rainbow PUSH
Editor & Publisher Emeritus put at severe risk the kind of capital that (Dr. Ron Walters is a political analysts and pro- and a national board member of
(1912-1997) has enabled Black families to fund college fessor emeritus at the University of Maryland Col- the Southern Christian Leader-
enrollment in the previous generation and lege Park.) ship Conference.)
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