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And now...for the first time in history. For the first
time since time began, Michael Jordan has found his voice.
Michael Jordan has decided to come out of the shadows
of being scared of losing his endorsements and has, with
fear and much trembling, uttered a statement regarding
current civic unrest of the police shootings of unarmed
black men and the cowardly ambush of police officers by a
black sniper in Dallas.
One quick question? Where have you been, Michael
Jordan? Where have you been, among other cowards in the
field of athletics, during the past 30 years when a
commentary, even briefly, from your exalted basketball perch
could have/would have made a difference in someone's
thinking about the social fabric that was being rented by
upheaval and racial discord?
For too long, Michael Jordan was in hiding and when
asked his opinion about X, Y or Z, he would break into a
cold sweat and mumble, "No comment!"
Was Michael Jordan terrified of the mere thought that
he could be held accountable for his public comments and
those comments would get back to his white handlers and
sponsors and they would tag him with a, "bad boy" label and
he would lose their pats on his head?
Was Michael Jordan so unsure of himself and his
cognitive skills that he was intimidated into not even
putting out bland press releases that would express
something about his position on so many events that have
transpired in the past 20 years in this US of A?
Well, laudie...da...da...Michael Jordan has finally
said something and has donated
two million dollars to the NAACP and another social
organization who are fighting to mend and heal these gross
acts of urban civil war.
As you can readily discern, I have zero tolerance for
the Michael Jordans of the sports world and other, 'on the
sidelines' entertainment giants who have made zillion of
dollars and yet commit maybe 33 cents to social causes that
champion human and civil rights.
Was Michael Jordan obligated to do so? Yes! Each year,
with his "new" issue of a basketball shoe, Michael Jordan
has made multiple millions off of impressionable black
youths who buy his outrageously-priced sports gear.
Yeah, Michael "owes" those kids something besides a
new shoe made each year in China. He owes them an
explanation about why he is so late to the game of
commentary and involvement for the very kids...his prime
market...that buys his "stuff", to say something meaningful
about their struggles and aspirations.
So, welcome, Michael...and a long overdue to you of,
"bout time you got on your big boy pants and stepped up to
the front line!"
Now, I know everyone is not a Harry Belafonte or a John
Lewis or a Dick Gregory, but come on, folks, when these mega
stars come into your living room via the TV or Netflix
streaming and you pay money to see them act or perform, you
should have a reasonable expectation that they will tip
their hats to you and say a needed word...at least now and
then!
Commentary Two:
Well, well. Tell me it ain't so! Will someone please shove
me and wake me up!
The word is out that good ol' Mike Bell led the
audience in the pledge of allegiance at a civic event this
past week.
So? you say! Well the civic event was The Amazing Donald
Trump Traveling Circus that held court in downtown Toledo at
The Huntington Center.
Yes, Mike Bell was there in apparently fine form, sans
cowboy hat, and led
the Republican presidential nominee and the gathered crowd
in pledging allegiance to the flag.
Why? The scuttlebutt is that some weeks ago, Donald
Trump was at a political event and the issue came up about
his lack of support amongst the critical African-American
voters.
Donald Trump, not one to be at a loss for words, scanned
the crowd and saw one black male there and said, "That's
my African American!"
That racial remark of Donald asserting ownership over that
hapless black male made national news that Donald was so
racially insensitive that he would politically "kidnap" this
black man as his own property.
Needless to say that black man was on news shows and was
asked about such a comment. He was flustered about being the
object of so many jokes and commentary simply because he
went to see a Trump rally and was brought into the political
discourse against his will.
Well, I heard that Mike Bell was so envious and jealous
of the attention that this guy got from Donald Trump that he
hoped against hope that after he led the audience in the
pledge of allegiance, that Donald Trump will also notice him
and say again, "That's my African American!"
Since Mike Bell is running for a Lucas County
commission slot, he is hoping that such a national spotlight
on possibly being called out as Donald Trump's
African-American in Toledo, will give his campaign a boost.
If I had had a chance to ask Mike Bell about that
fervent hope, this is what he undoubtedly would have said:
Mike Bell:
It is all good! I don't mind being called out. I am used to
it.
Me:
Mike, how does being called out by Donald Trump compare with
the former Mayor Carty Finkbeiner calling you, in
public...King Kong!
Mike Bell:
(a long pause). No comment.
Me:
Michael, is it true that you plan to do outreach in the
black community on the part of Donald Trump to get black
voters to vote for him?
Mike Bell:
(nervous laughter and an even longer pause). We will see
what happens. I gotta get paid first!
Me:
Michael, why are you associating with the Trump campaign?
Mike Bell:
(yes, an even longer, longer pause!). Well, if I don't win
the county slot, Donald has promised me a great political
career with him in D.C.
Me:
(with some shock). Do you really believe that?
Mike Bell)
(a pause so long, you wouldn't believe it!). He said, "Trust
me, it is going to be huge and amazing and so incredible.
Just believe me!" He is Donald. I believe everything he
says!
Contact Lafe Tolliver at tolliver@Juno.com
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