Better TV role models if only for a couple episodes

Last night, I was looking through my shows that I record throughout the week and I saw two pleasant suprises. Two of my favorite black actors have been introduced on two of my favorite shows.

Gabrielle Union is the partner for lead character Charlie Crews on the TV series Life. If you don't watch Life, it's about a police officer who is framed for murder, goes to jail, is then exonerated in which he recieves a large sum of money from the department plus a new job as detective on the police force. On and while in jail for about ten to fifteen years he also becomes a Zen Buddhist which provides the quirkiness to his character and is the only reason the show has any merit versus the ton of detective shows out there.

But Union will be playing his new partner while they send his old partner on another arc. Union's character Sara Seever is an overachiever, who can do almost anything, is extremely intelligent and prepared, and doesn't make mistakes. And if you didn't know she's also GORGEOUS.

Also, in the TV series The Office, Idris Elba (The Wire, Daddy's Little Girls alongside Union) is introduced as Charles Miner, the new regional Vice President in place of Jan and Ryan. The big difference is Elba is a very practical, no nonsense manager. He doesn't defer to Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) or even find him amusing. His presence is so large and looming that he actually makes Scott feel emasculated which drives the theme of the show.

I'm happy to see Hollywood cast these actors this week in both of these shows. Union for one has complained publicly about the lack of roles for black actors and actresses in Hollywood. I mean, I think personally until we start making our own movies and doing them well we will always have that problem because the media portrayal of our race actually portends into alot of places where the living room is the only place you see black people. But it still is important to note, that whether regional VP or hot shot detective, these roles can be played aptly by black actors and actresses.

Union has typically been put in roles where she is the snobby, sassy black girl and Elba is characterized as the tough, strong black man. I can't say that either one is taking a big step out of the roles that are comfortable for them but they may be taking a step out of the setting.

Contrary to what the radio says you should not be "Always Strapped"

I 'm listening to the radio the other day and I hear this new song by Lil Wayne and Baby.  The beat is kinda hot and the flow is ok, but of course being the educated, intellectual black man that I am, the first time I'm going to try to listen to what they lyrics are about.  Sounds like the usual song about stuntin' and how everybody loves me because I have more money than you.  I don't pay it much attention until the DJ announces the title..."Always Strapped."  

Always Strapped - Birdman Ft. Lil Wayne

Then it all starts to come together.  Watch out because even though at the beginning of the song when I said I was completely richer than you will ever be, I have to be always strapped.  While I'm hugging these chicks that love me for my money, that poke you feel is defintely not my microphone or how glad I am to see you.

Sigh, I'm not mad at Weezy and Baby.  I'm old enough to be used to this crap we call music.  I won't buy the CD, download or be attending the concert anytime soon.  I'm not even mad at the people for listening it, because that's deeper concern that I can't address in this one post.

Who I am fed up with is the radio stations that play it.  Rappers can make whatever music they want.  This is not a rant against the artists, (haha, I'm sorry I thought it would be funny to say that) they put an explicit content label on it like they should and then it's on the parents to do their job of not allowing it to get in their kids' hands.  This is also not a rant against the people who listen to it.  Popular culture is pervasive and addictive;  many people feel that they have to listen and buy into it because they don't want to feel left out of what everybody else wants to do.

But this is the flat out the wrong message for an urban radio station to be sending.  The Washington, D.C. area is hit so many times per year by gun violence especially at bars and nightclubs by brothas who are 'always strapped'.  What if that person mugged you and he wasn't strapped?  Maybe you just throw a punch?  Maybe you do nothing at all like you should.  I have a buddy who talks about he wishes he had a gun because he could guarantee he wouldn't be robbed.  I hate to tell you, but having a gun on you at all times is mostly an offensive measure because if somebody wants to shoot you with a handgun they probably will.  Random gun battles aren't something you see everyday, because usually the other guy gets blasted before anything pops off.  This is not the wild, wild west where it's ten paces then shoot.

Everytime someone gets shot who wasn't supposed to (and by that I mean ones not involved in drug related shootings like kids or random bystanders at the club) the local radio stations put on the serious tone.  They start talking about stopping the violence, but they still play these songs that glorify it.  I remember back in college when a little girl was killed by a stray bullet and the Russ Parr show is having some special to talk about it then they play the song "Don't Want No Drama".  The chorus goes:

"Bust a nigga head, slap a hoe, shoot the club up" 

Be consistent, send the message every day and every minute.  Play the songs that inspire positive behavior in your community.  If you can't do that, then you need to play some kind of victory music when somebody gets shot because it has come to the point where they play more negative than positive music.  Instead of playing 'Always Strapped', maybe you could find some songs that talk about things we should always be doing.  Here's my top ten.

1. Always wear a condom (there's the best kind of strapped, if not see number 5 or see a doctor)
2. Always paying attention in class
3. Always keeping my cool
4. Always watching what I eat
5. Always taking care of my kids
6. Always using the right language in public
7. Always coming to work on time
8. Always saving money
9. Always wearing clothes that fit
10. Always respect our women

And if anything I said above made you mad, join the club because I get mad just looking at you.   If your tired of hearing about people glorifying what we 'Always shouldn't do" feel free to add to my list.