When an 88-year-old Black woman turns an F-bomb into sacred liturgy, you better believe the spirit is moving. Skip didn't just get roasted. He got exorcised. Some yells liberate. Some yells colonize. The old heads know the difference. Let the holy cusswords fly.
Very well done! Personally, I’ve watched USofA and listened to you so often, that I hear the inflections and sarcasm in your written words! Either approach is good for me. Just keep being your authentic self and I celebrate your mom for her perseverance and standing tall for a better America!
Your piece here hits home. My mom grew up in Atlanta in the 40s and 50s, and I grew up hearing her stories of Hattie (no last name given), her nanny who according to mom dutifully waited outside the ice cream shop while mom went in “to buy cones for us both!” On the ride home, of course, Miss Hattie sat in the back of the bus, which mom remarked always in her telling, that it made her sad and confused as a child.
It took me until freshman year intro to sociology, unfortunately, to realize a fuller context for this story, the lingering horror show it represented, although (as mom told the story her entire life) its implications were either lost on her, or she pretended that they were.
Mom, with her post-graduate education and world experience, lived well past any age where it was possible to misread those memories of hers. Yet she did, or genuinely seemed to. She never could bring herself to admit that her nanny’s experience might be anything other than she imagined it to be as a child.
My brother and I have tried to do better. We were both raised overseas. It’s frankly easier for us to be less obtuse and more aware, although we are still guilty of taking advantage of the system that still has advantages for us.
Thank you for writing all this. The more we admit to our blind spots and the more we acknowledge painful but true family history the faster we can heal and build.
I saw Sinners in the theater when it first came out. I am a history buff and especially try to understand the non-white supremacist version of American “history.” I stayed through the credits (luckily) and was moved to silence for some time after leaving the theater. I felt the pain of the utter unfairness and depravity of white supremacy served up throughout the film. I also know how white privilege is present every day in every white person’s life, no matter who you are or where you came from. My grandparents immigrated from southern Italy to the U.S. in the early 1900s. They were poor and uneducated. My parents grew up poor in the Great Depression, neither graduated high school, with my dad working as a mechanic on the Long Island Railroad for his entire life. We were the working poor, but were white. Although we had very little, I was white. I experienced white privilege all my life. Any white person who says they did not benefit from white privilege is lying, clueless, or so racist they actually can’t recognize it. Every white person should be required to see Sinners in the theater - through the credits. Maybe two or three times. I love your voice and your work. Please keep speaking truth to power.
Sinners is a compelling piece of art. This from another 73 yr. old white guy, who doesn’t dye his hair and eyebrows. Oh, and if were Shannon Sharpe I would slugged him.
Skip Bayless,.. oh Lord. He’s like the toilet paper stuck to the bottom of your shoe.. Fuckin’ retire already… Shannon Sharpe too. Stay in your lane, dude….hint: it’s not politics. Love the choice of reading and listening. I can listen while I work. Or read when I find the time. Take as much time and space as you need to, Kamau. We still have a long way to go.❤️✌🏻
I am a reader not a listener so thanks for having both. Laughed out loud at the term sports yellers. Thanks, and then, as usual you got the deep thoughts in the funny sandwich. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, insight, and humor
Loved this! And so great to hear your narration. I am usually not a fan of horror - and I don’t watch sports etc commentary so I didn’t know who these people were. But they seem so recognizable. Cut from the same bullshit cloth that drives stupid white men into popularity. I had my own run in with an Indian American dude of that cloth.
A well done reading! As RS says above, seems like it will add to your work load and that's not good for you, but hearing your voice is always a pleasure. Either written or on audio, I will take your words to heart, and please keep fighting the good fight against fascism and racism.
I typically do not to watch the sports yellers, ‘cause, well they yell, don’t listen, don’t care, and miss the whole point of what’s important. Just like the current regime. Never knew what happened to Skip. Now I know, what a pathetic life.
Not quite the same as your mom’s F-bomb, but I spoke with a favorite clergy person yesterday, told them I hated a certain old white man, who is equally pathetic, but doing much more harm than Skip. Now to redirect that hatred toward positivity.
Loved READING this! Probably I would also enjoy the audio and I’m glad to have the option, but I really love the illustrative YouTube etc clips you intersperse with your posts!
When an 88-year-old Black woman turns an F-bomb into sacred liturgy, you better believe the spirit is moving. Skip didn't just get roasted. He got exorcised. Some yells liberate. Some yells colonize. The old heads know the difference. Let the holy cusswords fly.
WORD!✊🏿
Very well done! Personally, I’ve watched USofA and listened to you so often, that I hear the inflections and sarcasm in your written words! Either approach is good for me. Just keep being your authentic self and I celebrate your mom for her perseverance and standing tall for a better America!
Thank you for these kind words!
Yes, please. More Audio!
Okay then!🤣
Your piece here hits home. My mom grew up in Atlanta in the 40s and 50s, and I grew up hearing her stories of Hattie (no last name given), her nanny who according to mom dutifully waited outside the ice cream shop while mom went in “to buy cones for us both!” On the ride home, of course, Miss Hattie sat in the back of the bus, which mom remarked always in her telling, that it made her sad and confused as a child.
It took me until freshman year intro to sociology, unfortunately, to realize a fuller context for this story, the lingering horror show it represented, although (as mom told the story her entire life) its implications were either lost on her, or she pretended that they were.
Mom, with her post-graduate education and world experience, lived well past any age where it was possible to misread those memories of hers. Yet she did, or genuinely seemed to. She never could bring herself to admit that her nanny’s experience might be anything other than she imagined it to be as a child.
My brother and I have tried to do better. We were both raised overseas. It’s frankly easier for us to be less obtuse and more aware, although we are still guilty of taking advantage of the system that still has advantages for us.
Thank you for writing all this. The more we admit to our blind spots and the more we acknowledge painful but true family history the faster we can heal and build.
I just asked Mom’s brother (who would be the last in the family to remember) what Hattie’s last name was. It was Love. Hattie Love.
I saw Sinners in the theater when it first came out. I am a history buff and especially try to understand the non-white supremacist version of American “history.” I stayed through the credits (luckily) and was moved to silence for some time after leaving the theater. I felt the pain of the utter unfairness and depravity of white supremacy served up throughout the film. I also know how white privilege is present every day in every white person’s life, no matter who you are or where you came from. My grandparents immigrated from southern Italy to the U.S. in the early 1900s. They were poor and uneducated. My parents grew up poor in the Great Depression, neither graduated high school, with my dad working as a mechanic on the Long Island Railroad for his entire life. We were the working poor, but were white. Although we had very little, I was white. I experienced white privilege all my life. Any white person who says they did not benefit from white privilege is lying, clueless, or so racist they actually can’t recognize it. Every white person should be required to see Sinners in the theater - through the credits. Maybe two or three times. I love your voice and your work. Please keep speaking truth to power.
Sinners is a compelling piece of art. This from another 73 yr. old white guy, who doesn’t dye his hair and eyebrows. Oh, and if were Shannon Sharpe I would slugged him.
You have always one of the good ones. I’ll never forget you taking me on the road for the first time. Love you, Dan!
You also got me back into Carlin!
Love you and all your doing. If you haven’t read this, you must: https://open.substack.com/pub/jimstewartson/p/i-asked-chatgpt-to-analyze-stephen?r=1dkphq&utm_medium=ios
Poor Skippy no like movie. Movie show Skippy things Skippy no like. Movie is bad movie. But smarty filmmaker-man make Skippy LOVE movie.
🤣
Also, this sound is the distillation of Skip: https://youtu.be/wrH_pRSYAkQ?si=Rw8FJHI9F2JyXBWh&t=179
He is Judge Doom in Roger Rabbit, being perpetually melted in The Dip.
Skip Bayless,.. oh Lord. He’s like the toilet paper stuck to the bottom of your shoe.. Fuckin’ retire already… Shannon Sharpe too. Stay in your lane, dude….hint: it’s not politics. Love the choice of reading and listening. I can listen while I work. Or read when I find the time. Take as much time and space as you need to, Kamau. We still have a long way to go.❤️✌🏻
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed hearing it. Thank you for your support!
👍👍 Not that I want to add to your work load, but your sweet dulcet tones are much preferred to the Substack automated voice.
I agree!
I am a reader not a listener so thanks for having both. Laughed out loud at the term sports yellers. Thanks, and then, as usual you got the deep thoughts in the funny sandwich. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, insight, and humor
Loved this! And so great to hear your narration. I am usually not a fan of horror - and I don’t watch sports etc commentary so I didn’t know who these people were. But they seem so recognizable. Cut from the same bullshit cloth that drives stupid white men into popularity. I had my own run in with an Indian American dude of that cloth.
MOSF 18.8: A Modest Proposal: Vivek Ramaswamy Takes My Civics Exam https://eastwindezine.com/mosf-18-8-a-modest-proposal-vivek-ramaswamy-takes-my-civics-exam/
Read on, my man, read on. Much better hearing you tell the story, than reading it.
I’ll try to make this happen.
A well done reading! As RS says above, seems like it will add to your work load and that's not good for you, but hearing your voice is always a pleasure. Either written or on audio, I will take your words to heart, and please keep fighting the good fight against fascism and racism.
Thank you. Hopefully it won’t add too much.
I typically do not to watch the sports yellers, ‘cause, well they yell, don’t listen, don’t care, and miss the whole point of what’s important. Just like the current regime. Never knew what happened to Skip. Now I know, what a pathetic life.
Not quite the same as your mom’s F-bomb, but I spoke with a favorite clergy person yesterday, told them I hated a certain old white man, who is equally pathetic, but doing much more harm than Skip. Now to redirect that hatred toward positivity.
Thanks for what you do.
Thank you. I feel like all these old white tellers are connected. So I spread my focus around.
Beautiful!
Loved READING this! Probably I would also enjoy the audio and I’m glad to have the option, but I really love the illustrative YouTube etc clips you intersperse with your posts!
Putting those clips in there is the most fun part.