Black Is In

It is so in to be us now, they make jokes about it.  The satirical humorists of the Onion put up an article detailing how black people are feeling weird because of so many white people smiling at
them.  Now if that’s cutting edge satire, then we can truly break out the Benson and Hedges, we’ve come a long way, baby. Wanda Sykes hosted the White House Correspondents Dinner.  Who better than us to make jokes in tough times? And  jokes about the extreme right and get laughs.  Even a smirk, from the president.

Being black is not just fashionable, it’s downright Divine.  Just ask Briana Bonds.  We always knew a good hairdo to be priceless.  Now, we know why.  Once again, blackness saves a life.

We must give thanks for weaves.  What’s next? Giving thanks for Spanks? A lot of us brothers see Spanks every day and don’t know it.   I know the sistas already give thanks for Spanks.    Even though I heard they are the focus of litigation where a brother is suing because when he got his date home, she peeled the Spanks off and it was like poppin  open a can of biscuits.  But that’s another story.  And the visual is more than I care to imagine.

Though you heard it here first: big girls are in. And our bigger sistas got their swag goin.  Tyler Perry, give thanks. Make no mistake, Jennifer Hudson is comin for y’all this summer.  And from your mother to your Mami, you  know the threat of getting hit with that pocketbook.

We, in our complete characterization of our country, adopt both sides of every tale.  Just look at Michael Steele.  The other side of the coin has usually been our hang out anyway.  We are good at being bad.  If Denzel can win an Oscar for his role as an angel dust smoking, crooked cop and Forest Whitaker can win for portraying Idi Amin, then why should we be surprised to see Grace Jones take on the corporate greed that has landed us in such a mess.

And say what you want, he’s the baddest that’s ever done it.   Michael Jackson is setting up some shows, and the world is lining up to see him.  Because they know that beneath the skin condition or whatever caused him looking that way, behind the nose, and whoever’s babies he’s claimin,  beats the black heart of our entertainment legacy.  And we will risk being grossed out by him or his behavior to glimpse that genius once again.

Often we see athletes helping to paint houses, while dropping threes and dishing assists to push their NBA teams, getting it in with the community.   But Chauncy Billups has literally brought it home.  He is back in Denver, leading the Nuggets into the NBA playoffs, with a championship ring, MVP award, and his money right.  You want to talk about keeping it real?  When he goes to speak about the hood, it’s his hood.  His school.  His experience in the same bricks, on the same street.

Now, more than before, we are black and black is in.  From the penthouse to the pavement.  From the White House to the Outhouse, we are still stinkin it up, in our own fashion.  And while we can take some satisfaction in our newfound acceptance, the real revolution evolution is loving ourselves. And loving  each other for being who we are. 

VeTalle Fusilier is a producer in Washington, DC. It's pronounced VEE-tal FEW-suh-LEER