Children of a Lesser Demon

2/15/15

As Black people, we often live under the veneer of proud self-sufficiency, but occasionally, our true childlike relationship to white supremacy becomes obvious to all. Take, for instance, the recent embarrassing display on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice. Famed actress Vivica A. Fox butted heads with reality star Kenya Moore on the popular series, hosted by Donald Trump. Anyone who's seen the show knows this kind of thing is par for the course, as celebs routinely speak poorly of their team members, in order to gain favor with Trump and stay on the show for another week.

But this was something uglier, something … truly demeaning. Not only were these two successful black women going at each other's throats, they did so with the venom and vitriol of two slaves, fighting for massa's affections. It was particularly difficult to watch Ms. Fox, a woman I've heretofore admired, spout such insults as “thief” and “toxic trick” to another sista, all while literally raising her hand for “Mister Trump” like she's his obedient pupil. To make bad matters worse, Ms. Fox actually cried out of relief when Moore was fired, as if their lives were on the line. I can't help but see two damaged slave children, begging to not be whipped.

It's sad. Equally sad, is whom they choose to beg. Donald Trump: who, in 1989, bought full-paged ads in several New York newspapers, calling for the executions of the “Central Park Five.” You may remember, dear reader, that those five underage black and latino teenagers were completely innocent, which was clear, even at that time. Now, after their exoneration, Trump still refuses to apologize for his blood lust, going so far as to criticize their $40 million dollar settlement. Trump writes:

“My opinion on the settlement of the Central Park Jogger case is that it’s a disgrace. A detective close to the case, and who has followed it since 1989, calls it 'the heist of the century.'

Settling doesn’t mean innocence, but it indicates incompetence on several levels. This case has not been dormant, and many people have asked why it took so long to settle? It is politics at its lowest and worst form.”

And for good measure, Trump adds, “These young men do not exactly have the pasts of angels." All-class, this guy. All-class.

We all have to make compromises to survive in a system that by its very mandate is at war with us, but there are certain lines that none of us should cross. Disrespecting another black person in the presence of a suspected white supremacist, just to turn the racist eye away from ourselves, is completely unacceptable.