Malcolm X: The Human vs. The Hero

by today's Urban Chameleon

Last night, between frozen yogurt and a 10:00PM movie showing, me, my husband, mom and stepfather got into a heated discussion about the new book on Malcolm X from renown historian Manning Marable, “A Life of Reinvention.” Allegedly, the book reveals facts of Malcolm X’s life that were kept quiet from the public, including emotional and physical problems between him and Betty Shabazz, and challenges Alex Haley’s earlier interpretation; Marable even claims that X had a white male lover. My husband, born within a few days of Malcolm X, always felt some kind of zodiac connection and was disheartened by the news. This was not the same hero he, or most of us, were familiar with.

My mother tried to give some perspective. Coming from the Civil Rights generation with a circle of friends, which include educators and philosophers, the news was no news to her. She argued most heroes have a regime in place to protect an image (which hides human flaws from the greater public). However, I got the sense that like many others, my husband preferred not to know. The regime made it safe and comfortable, but I couldn’t help but wonder where we would be as a culture if we knew sooner. Would married couples with similar issues find comfort? Would the Gay Rights movement be further along? My mom had to remind my husband that the facts of someone’s life that might make us uncomfortable, doesn’t take away from their contributions. People are complex; rarely do we see examples that reflect our complexities. Many people live quietly, tormented in their duality, or even tri-ality, with no outlet. Maybe Malcolm X was just an Urban Chameleon…most of us are, regardless of who and what we are; different sides of us are revealed when exposed to different audiences. My corporate friends certainly see a different side of me than my around-the-way friends.

I thought back to the skit, “The Real Housewives of the Civil Rights?” and how upset some people were that our heroes were contextualized in a satirical manner by a group of comedians. Now, just a few weeks later, a credible historian causes a similar affect with alleged facts. Would we be less emotional if we allowed ourselves to be more human?

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Funnel Cake Flowers comments on Grant Hill vs. Jalen Rose. Who is more Black?

FCF: The controversial topic of Real Black folks vs. Uncle Toms, “sell outs” is as old as the piece of fried chicken to ever accompany the first piece of slice bread. NBA player Grant Hill, wrote an article for the New York Times responding to retired NBA player, Jalen Rose who as a freshmen at Michigan State, made a comment insinuating that Black men that attend Duke University aren’t really Black. Thoughts about my own childhood resurfaced as growing up people, both Black and white often mistook my light skin’dness and ability to command the Queens English as being less Black. More often than not, the depiction of Black life is associated with poverty and the inability to annunciate words. I was raised with two loving parents and ironically I did grew up in da hood and can flip real quick and bust yo’ ass. I say this to say, don’t let the pronunciation of someone’s I-N-G’s fool you. Whether Black, white, Asian, Latino, cultural authenticity is reflected in many different ways. Under this cape I can pull out an Ak47 just as quickly as I can pull out a master’s degree. In the words of T.I. “If you see me in the club shawty you don’t know me.” I do know that one thing is for sure…it’s complicated. I’m Funnel Cake Flowers your Urban Chameleon news reporter from Tickles.TV

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How Do Black Men Handle White Angst?

by today's Urban Chameleon contributor

It’s happened a few times now where I’ve been out at a bar and some drunk white guy says something real disrespectful that channels my ‘hood instincts…

Last night, a childhood friend stopped by, he was passing through Atlanta on his way to Santa Fe, New Mexico to purchase new artwork for his collection. Here we are a couple of brothers catching up on politics, social injustices and ways to solve the problems of our communities.

We decided to grab a couple of beers at a spot down the street. The place was crowded, but I saw this white guy get up and begin to move away from the table or shall I say stumble away. I asked if he was finished and he turns to me and says, “I’m done when I say I’m done boy.”

In that very moment it didn’t matter that I was a PH.D, Fulbright Scholar, tenure professor who has written three books with a new release on the way. I was a man who had just been disrespected and was ready to rumble. I knew how Skip Gates felt when that cop was on his property; all the bullsh*t that’s been swallowed to get to where I am and I’m still chewing.

This white man had no idea that where I grew up people were shot and killed for reasons not nearly as valid as this. My boy stepped in reminding me that I had a 9AM class to teach. For an Urban Chameleon in this kind of situation you always have to ask your self is it worth kicking his ass.

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How Far Will You Go to Pay for Some Nookie?

BALLIN' vs PROSTITUTION: What's the Difference

Original source from AverageBro.com

As a 36 29-year old black man with nearly a decade of marital expertise, I find relating to single people increasingly difficult. I suppose its just the whole "rearview mirror effect". The further I'm separated from my singlehood, the hazier my recollections of those distant days become.

Still, my ear is close enough to the ground to have a general clue of what's still going on out there, and as I've said here before, I'm always repulsed when I hear such nonsense as "it ain't trickin' if you got it". I mean, seriously, dudes here in DC are taking that "Throw Some D's" thing a bit too literally and buying chicks fake boobies. What part of the game is that?[1]

Sure, a gentleman should always be a gentleman. No woman likes a cheap (or broke) man, and part of courting/pursuit involves doing things like eating out, movies, etc. in an effort to get to know someone better. But paying for rent, childcare for a child that ain't yours, and light bills? That sh*t is just extra.

There's a very thin line between treating a lady to a good time and being a simp. Any guy who buys Gucci bags and expensive vacations for a chick not named his wife just to get close to her is a sucka, plain and simple. The whole thing has me thinking: what's really the difference between "Ballin'" and outright buying the nookie?

I realize this is a topic with a whole lot of gray area, but for the fellas and ladies, single or otherwise, I'm wondering that ya'll think about this.

Question: At what point does the purchase of goods and services to keep a person interested in you become dangerously close to outright trickin'? Fellas, what's the most money you spent to entertain a lady? Ladies, does a guy who offers to throw D's on you and pay for your rent qualify as a baller or a simp?

[1] Is this an epidemic in other cities as well? And come on bruh, buyin' girls new t*tties? F'real? Any man spending $8k to upgrade a chick so the next man (and the next, and the next) can enjoy the fruits of your hard earned labor is the definition of a simp. Stop it. What Would Obama Do?

Original source from Averagebro.com

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Writer Reveals Malcolm X's Bisexual Past

Urban Chameleon news

In coming across this post on Hip Hop Wired it has launched a question to be talked about here on HOTUC, is Gay the new Black? Some argue, absolutely not that being gay is a problem that can being cured by a therapist where as one can't help the color of their skin. Regardless of your theory of why someone is gay, the only question is why isn't everyone entitled to equal rights.

In regards to this article if Brotha Malcolm was gay would it change his historical value?

by JORDAN C. ALSTON posted on Hip Hop wired

It seems that a change of strategy was all too inevitable after gay and lesbian support groups were left reeling at the hands of Maine's citizenry. The new order of the day seems to call for a more personal approach to replace the forceful tone often associated with such groups.

Gay rights activists have taken an unprecedented step in revealing some of histories most polarizing figures little secrets, namely, that they were all apart of the lesbian, gay, or bisexual community.

A controversial article has many, especially those in the Black community, highly pissed off.

A writer for British newspaper, The UK Guardian, is asserting that revolutionary and Black activist, Malcolm X, engaged in a myriad of gay, sexual relationships and was bisexual.

Peter Tatchell gives “credence” to his claim by citing unreliable second-hand sources, claiming that members of Malcolm's family and several Black activists have worked tirelessly to cover his homosexual relationships while keeping the media unaware of the “full spectrum” of his sexuality.

Tatchell even pointed to instances, cited by other misguided writers, of accounts putting the Black Liberation and civil rights icon in a dress!

There is no doubt that everyone has secrets, but this man (and everyone else who has added to this nonsense) should feel the shame of one million liars for attempting to tarnish the name of a man that played a huge role in the securing of our rights as Black Americans.

Malcom X served as the fiery sword to Martin Luther King's dove; his work has never truly been appreciated in mainstream society, but he is appreciated and idolized by those who are benefiting from his contributions to a legendary movement.

One of our most proud Black leaders does not need to have his legacy besmirched, added to annals of unspoken, discredited Black leadership, all because one man is mad that he can't "marry" his old roommate from college.

The struggle by Black Americans for Civil Rights is not the same as the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) fight for the "right" to marry, and I am sorry for those that believe they are related in any way.

Bottom line, Malcolm X was an imposingly powerful and brilliant man in life, and he has surpassed legendary status in death. No man can take that away from him. Peter Tatchell is the worst kind of scum bucket, bottom-feeding, troglodyte resembling trash!

As*hole. . .

source from hiphopwired.com

click here to read Peter Tatchell's article Malcolm X was Bisexual. Get Over it.

Blame It On The AAAAAAAlcohole…

by today’s Urban Chameleon contributor

Why is it always deepness to get into the club?! Why do we so value and honor THE CLUB? And on a random note, why are Black people always mentally at the club? Take this man below for instance.














He’s at the club. I know in my thirty years on this planet I have never had that much of a mind blowing experience at the club that warrants my effort to continue to fight to get in and then fight to get a drink. In fact I probably have had more experiences where I’ve usually loss some bit of a dignity at the club.

Last night my cousin invited me out…to the club. Being that he knows just about every promoter in NYC he definitely doesn’t do lines so going out with him usually entails waiting by the door until his “boy” or “girl” comes out to get him but even that process can be deep. Like last night for instance, he almost got into a fight with another dude who was waiting by the door, I guess for his “boy” or “girl” to let him in. Ego crushed when he was asked to step aside so that my cousin and I could pass. This dude had to prevail and say something to my cousin, “Yo, you better not step on my kicks fam.” Of course this was a Black man, I mean what other culture gets that emotional about their sneakers.












My cousin had to try and restrain himself because business suit and all he has gotten into it with dudes before and it aint purrrty. (I’m convinced it’s the pretty boy complex, you know he’s light skinned with lights eyes, so he’s always on guard). Regardless, Black man testing Black man -someone’s ego is either being swallowed or someone is getting shot. Fortunately my cousin played the cool card and just responded, “It’s all good playboy” but not before a very intense 40 second stare down.

Once inside you would not believe what I saw, it was absolutely unbelievable, riveting and mind blowing. Get a load of this, music was playing and people were drinking. That’s it people nothing more special than that. It was the club so why are we so obsessed? Don’t you know we found ourselves encountering yet another altercation- this time my cousin was holding back some other random dude who had broken a bottle against the side of the bar and was ready to cut this dude. Apparently one dude had bumped his drink against the other dude causing some droplets of Hennessy to splash upon the outfit. Can we just assume that this was accident? I mean this is what happens when you know…you’re at the club! Every time I go to the club I think I will not be back. List or no list it’s just too deep. But then enough time passes and someone I know always says to me, “You know what we should do tonight? Hit the club.”

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