I was just reading an article about a 17 year old Ugandan king. The article was interesting and for some reason it made me think of Prince Akeem and King Jaffe Jopher in Zamunda (Coming to America). J That movie is so funny…

In the article Professor Ndebesa Mwambutsya, a History professor at Makerere University in Kampala said something that was really interesting. He was responding to the idea that that monarchs are a possible set back for national integration. This is what he said…

"Ugandans identify themselves first with their tribes and kingdoms, then as citizens." "This works in most African cultures because people have lost faith in the government, and tribes and kingdoms provide a nucleus around which an identity can be forged."

This made me think of people of color in America. We are more likely to rep our "set" or our skin color before we would ever think of announcing our American nationality. Yet those of "less color" are more likely to rep their nationality rather than their skin color or their "set"; that is, if they even have anything that could remotely be considered a "set".

For instance, if you are in Delaware and you ask me where I am from, my first instinct would be to reply, "Northside." Now, granted, if I am in a different state or a different country I would most likely respond differently but you get my drift.

In addition, if someone were to ask "What are you?" my response would probably be something like this… (with a quizzical facial expression since it is quite bizarre for someone to just randomly ask such a question)  

"I am black….and female."

And I could see a Dominican-American man (born and raised in America) responding something like this…

"I am Dominican."

Yet, I could see a Caucasian responding like this…

"I am American."

Now I could be wrong but this is just how I see things. I just think its interesting how people of color are usually the ones talking about what street they are from or what set they rep but Caucasians don't. Maybe it's in our DNA to associate with a sub-society within a larger society. Just like Professor Mwambutsya says, in Africa people usually identify with their tribe (sub-society) before their country (larger society). I guess in America, there is really only a larger society (America) and no real sub-societies. So we had to create our own…

Professor Mwambutsya also said,

Finding a balance between national unity and tradition can be a challenge...

"It's a paradox in itself. It is important that African culture is preserved because a people without culture is like groping in the darkness," he says.

This is even more interesting because often, people of color could care less about being American, not unless they are outside of America and need to assert their land of origin. I can't even remember the last time I stated "I am American." I really can't…but you better believe that I can remember the last time I said "I'm from 2-4" or "I'm from Northside" or "I'm black." Maybe this also has something to do with America being the strong-armed bully that she is where everything is judged based upon her standards so everyone already knows that I'm American…or maybe it has something to do with the fact that I am in America so there is no need to say that I am American…I don't know.  

The last part of Professor Mwambutsya statement is worth thinking about as well. "a people without culture is like groping in the darkness." Hmmmm, makes me wonder…am I in the darkness or in the light?

If you want to read the article about the 17- year old king, as "he bobs his head to rapper Jay-Z," check it here.

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Since the inception of the adult cartoon Family Guy in 1999 its main premise has been offense. The show is highly insulting and, if I may say, extremely funny**. The whole purpose of the show is to present social issues in a funny and offensive manner. If you are sensitive to sexism, racism and/or politics, this may not be the show for you. The main characters are a family of dysfunctional white people who have weird and equally dysfunctional friends and associates. This, in essence, is what makes the show so funny. Cartooned American dysfunction is funny.  At times the jokes sting and as such, there are occasions when we are not too sure if we should laugh or condemn the writers. But that is to be expected from a show whose main goal for each episode is to be offensive. If you do not like the offensive methodology of Family Guy, it is suggested that you do not watch the show.

Yesterday, Febraury 22, 2010, Ruben Navarette of San Diego Union-Tribune had an opinionated editorial  featured on CNN.com that expressed his disdain for a recent joke on Family Guy. On one of the latest episodes, Chris (the teenaged son of the Griffin family) is dating a young lady with Down Syndrome. When Chris asks this young lady about her parents’ occupations, she replies, “My father is an accountant and my mom is the former governor of Alaska.” (*Pause while everyone figures out the joke*)

Do you get it? Former governor of Alaska? Yes, it’s a joke about Sarah Palin. She is the former governor of Alaska and she has a 2-year old son with Down Syndrome. Hilarious, right?

Well, to Mr. Ruben Navarette, this is not funny at all. To him, dragging a poor, innocent child with Down Syndrome into a joke that could have easily been directed toward Sarah Palin without the inclusion of the child was purely hateful. In my opinion, it was pure comedy.

Sarah Palin often sets herself up for insult. She says some of the most idiotic things that could ever be said and she continuously makes a fool of herself and her family. When you put yourself out there like that, you are fair game to everyone who likes to joke, especially the writers of Family Guy. Writers such as those for Family Guy live off of people like Sarah Palin, for without her idiosyncrasies they would have nothing to write about. There is not one person or entity that is off limits to the writers of Family Guy. They joke about everything and everybody, even God (Allah, Buddah, Jesus, and any other religious entity that you can think of).Their jokes usually have some sort of social commentary and revolve around things that are popular current news stories. Sarah Palin is no exception.

I understand that teasing those with disabilities is wrong and, if I may borrower a word from Navarette, it’s hateful. The disabled do not choose their predicament and therefore they should not be the focus of our jokes. With that being said, I also understand the purpose of a show such as Family Guy and I know that no one, not even the disabled, are above their level of comedy.  In this situation, even though Down Syndrome is incorporated into the joke, Sarah Palin’s disabled child is not the joke’s focal point. IT’S ALL ABOUT SARAH PALIN. In terms of this joke, no one cares about her child and his disability. The main point was to make fun of Sarah Palin, not her child. Sarah Palin is a bumbling fool who does not know what to say or when to say it. Unfortunately, whether she means it or not, what she says and does affects those with whom she associates (i.e. her children).

Recently, Rahm Emanuel was chastised by Sarah Palin for his use of the term ‘retard’ (‘f*cking retarded’ to be exact) when referring to a group of liberal democrats. Emanuel, the Presidential Chief of Staff, said his remark in a very private meeting, but, not surprisingly, his vulgar statement leaked beyond the confines of those in his company. Palin went berserk over Emanuel’s statement, because as we all know, her son has Down Syndrome and she is, for a lack of better words, sensitive to the term 'retard'.

Well, not to long after Palin’s attack of Emanuel, Rush Limbaugh goes on a ‘retard’ yelling tirade saying things such as;  

Our politically correct society is acting like some giant insult has taken place, by calling people who are retards, retards! [in reference to Emanuel’s statement] I mean these people, these liberal activists, are kooks! They are loony tunes!... So now there’s going to be a meeting, there’s going to be a retard summit…”

Whoa, Limbaugh, in the words of Jay-Z’s chorus singers, you went ‘hard’. So, after her attack of Emanuel (for something that he said in private) it could be assumed that Palin would attack Limbaugh as well (especially since his comments were made to the public listening audience). Well she didn’t. Actually, in an odd turn of events, Palin defended Limbaugh. Yes, she actually defended his use of the word ‘retard’ while continuing on her rampage about Emanuel. That makes absolutely no sense. And you wonder why Family Guy makes jokes about this lady?

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion so, Navarette, you can say whatever you like in defense of Sarah Palin and children with Down Syndrome. Just make sure you understand that in the world of Family Guy, if you make a fool of yourself in the social arena, you will be made a fool of on Family Guy. That’s just the way it is.

**This said by a black woman. Imagine how offensive this show should be to me.

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