MAKE SEPTEMBER 11 A NATIONAL HOLIDAY?

Do We Really Need More Crowded Malls?

It is easy at a tender time like the 5th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks to want to reach for an emotional analgesic. Unfortunately there is none. Nothing but time will even begin to numb the shock and pain of that awful day and the days that followed. As my then boss said at the time (our offices were three blocks away from the World Trade Center) "There is no such thing as a return to normal after this. The best we can do is try and return to routine."

Even "routine" has been altered dramatically, perhaps for our life times.

I fully understand those directly affected by September 11 -- families, friends, colleagues, etc. -- of those killed or seriously injured. And those who gave their all as volunteers or paid responders. And those who for whatever reason feel a pain that will not go away, or even an anger that won't, I can understand why they feel that September 11 should forever be kept as a day of reverence and reflection.

That is exactly why I don't believe September 11 should be a national holiday. Before you know it, it will become just another day off. Another "sale day." How long before the radio blares out, "September 11 shopping day values?" How long before lines at the suburban mall and city department stores stretch out the door? Will it be a "no tax day" as well?

And what about the other events? Ultimately they will take the 11th away and place it on say, the second Monday in September. That means one more summer three-day weekend getaway. A last shot at the Hamptons, the Vineyard, the Bahamas.

I remember when Martin Luther King's birthday became a national holiday. I am Black. I was against it. I wanted it to become "our day of absence." In King's honor, I wanted all Black people who believed in King's works and accomplishments, to take the day off from school, work, whatever. If you can't, to at least take a portion of your day and meet, think, develop plans for those things that will enhance the quality of life in your community, town/city, etc. If you don't want to be part of a group, improve the quality of your family life, home life -- or just your own life.

But did they listen to me? No!

This point was driven home during the first year King's birthday became a holiday. My then Assistant Vice President, Irish eyes smiling, came into my office and slammed down a newspaper ad on my desk. It was for -- you guessed it -- a Martin Luther King Day sale at a local store. As if that wasn't enough (it was plenty, believe me!) he plopped down a memo sent to Black employees in our company from the company's "Black Employees Organization," advertising a "Martin Luther King Ski Weekend!"

For those who wish to maintain the integrity of September 11, keep it in your hands. It is already pushing the line between tasteful event and media spectacle with news reporters in their dark suits and dresses milking every last lump in the throat out of the survivors and witnesses.

That horse is out of the barn. Keep the door closed before there are more people lining up to get to the stores before the crowds get there, than there are reflecting on the events of that day.

If September 11 becomes a national holiday, it will become just that -- another day off.

Is it A Crime?

The "N" word takes the stand in Howard Beach assault trial

Howard Beach has entered New York City's racial dynamic once again. In the mid-1980s the Queens community became a huge flashpoint of often supressed, or overlooked, racial tensions in the city, when a group of white youths , screaming "get out of our neighborhood niggers," chased a group of Black youths until one of the Blacks ran into oncoming traffic was struck and killed by a car. Several others were injured in a vicious baseball bat attack.

Fast forward to June 29, 2005, when a carload of white youths has a confrontation with a group of Blacks, ending with yet another Black, Glenn Moore, being struck by -- you guessed it -- a baseball bat, the weapon of choice in Howard Beach. This time, however, there were some major distinctions. One, the victim lived to testify; two, the primary white suspect, Nicholas Minucci, dressed from head-to-toe in the latest hip hop fashions and bling, says that he was only acting in self defense as he feared being robbed. And third, he added, that he said, "nigga," (not with an "r" at the end) he meant it as a friendly greeting -- not the way it was used by the previous Howard Beach mob.

At first (full disclosure I am Black) I thought maybe there's a point to this: Has the "N-word" come out of the closet and gone mainstream? Has the proverbial barn door been torn off its hinges thanks to its use and overuse by rappers' lyrics and speech? Wasn't it inevitable that the young, white, suburban masses (who are the largest purchasers of rap music after all) would eventually claim the word much as they have claimed "ill," "chillin'," and "mad"? After all, its got an "a" at the end now.

On second thought, hell no! The "a" at the end of the "N-word" does not serve as a prophylactic from the past and present pain and torment. We should be dropping the word, not inviting it into the parlor for tea. Richard Pryor, whose Grammy-winning comedy album was titled, "That Nigger's Crazy," came back from a cathartic visit to Africa proclaiming, "I didn't see any niggers in Africa." He wised up and announced he would no longer use the word.

There is also the issue of "licensing" white people and other non-Blacks to use it. Comedian Chris Rock, a frequent user of the N-word in his material, was once being interviewed by then NBC talk show host, Tom Synder. The Caucasian Synder asked, "Why can't I use the word?"

Rock replied "Why do you want to use it?"

An interesting question for white people: What exactly do you feel when you say it? Hip? Empowered? An equal partner to Blacks on the coolness playing field? Superior to Blacks? Less afraid? Is it an excuse to degrade and get away with it?

The stakes are high here for Minucci. If the jury believes that he did in fact use the "N-word" in an offensive way, then this becomes a hate crime, not just your usual beef. The years added to his jail sentence would be considerable. According to a recent New York Daily News article, during trial one day Minucci, "busied himself reading a Harvard Law School professor's treatise on use of the 'N-word.' Minucci, contends that he used a variation of the vile slur as a hip hop friendly greeting to Moore." The article continues that Minucci even testified that, "Me and my Black friends, we called each other niggas all the time. I'm no racist, this was no hate crime."

But on third thought, after closer analysis, I realized that there was another "N-word" alleged perpetrator Minucci used. He said that when he struck Moore with his bat he did it not only to protect himself, but he proclaimed proudly, "I did it to protect the neighborhood."

What a noble gesture, one that will no doubt resonate with lots of whites, even some on the jury. It only takes one juror to ignore the "N-word" in favor of self-preservation to flip the case to not guilty, whether or not there was an "a" or an "r" at the end of the word. Many whites, even some very decent ones, in their heart of hearts, see it as a righteous act to "protect our neighborhood from the Blacks." It can be done in subtle ways like the supposedly outlawed red-lining that many banks and other lenders practice to keep Blacks out of certain areas. Or "steering," where realtors steer Blacks only to areas where clusters of Blacks already live. Many decent folks feel they reap the benefits of such practices.

The not so decent folks will turn their eyes away when the bat is used to keep the Blacks out. A few will actually pick one up.

This neighborhood loyalty is not exclusive to whites. Many hard working Blacks fear the image of the young, hip-hop dressed, Black male in their midst as they struggle to preserve some peace in their own communities. Strangely, they are not nearly so fearful of the young, white male in similiar attire. They too may vote in favor of the alleged neighborhood hero.

When testifying on the witness stand, victim Moore said of the aluminum bat he was struck with, "I could see it shinning, you know glistening."

Ah yes, like the sword of a knight in shinning armor riding to the neighborhood's rescue.

But suppose Moore had been walking through the Howard Beach streets, minding his own business and the alleged perpetrator, Minucci, had called him a nigger and chased him. Suppose Moore hits Minucci with a bat, would Moore be convicted? Would the power of the word nigger and its historical significance be enough to claim self-defense? Would Moore defending his own body be of equal value to Minucci defending his own neighborhood in the jury's eyes? And what about in the court of public opinion?

Maybe this case should be called N versus N.

WENDY WILLIAMS AND ORPAH'S "LOVER"

I'm certain that the only thing louder than the sound of Miss Williams' chin dropping to the floor on that recent afternoon was that of Oprah's foot landing squarely on Wendy's ass.

For those who don't know, Wendy Williams is a highly popular, nationally syndicated DJ, based in New York City at flagship station WBLS-FM. She specializes in gossip, most of it concerning rappers and other entertainers familiar to young (18-34) largely African-American listeners. She tends to dig deep for the dirt, much of it however, appears to be second hand information or innuendo. The radio ratings war in New York has become an especially intense, often mean-spirited battle for listeners in the Big Apple with stations swapping leads as often as the Yankees and Red Sox do in September. So it a huge deal when one of the top DJs lands a big fish for an exclusive interview.

Here it was on that Wednesday afternoon -- more than an exclusive -- a miracle by radio standards. The self appointed, "Queen of Media," was not only scooped by her direct competition -- Ed Lover from Power 105 FM -- but more so pimp slapped by Oprah (with an assist from her assistant Gayle King) when she "spontaneously" appeared on his show opposite Wendy's.

Imagine, here in this often grimy world of "rap radio," was the truely stately Oprah holding court with the Power 105 audience live and unscripted while Ed Lover (no choirboy himself) asks questions worthy of a true journalist (at least by today's standards.) He was respectful, informed and asked relevant questions.

Oprah told the story of going to meet with none other than Nelson Mandela. Upon arrival, one of his secruity guards greeted her group with the expression, "What's up N___s?" believing this was an appropriate greeting to American Blacks arriving for a meeting. She made the point that the "N" word is not harmless slang. But rather it has lead to, among other things, people around the planet (including many of those who should know better) thinking of it a benign term of endearment. Lover was obviously affected by this story and even said he would reconsider his own use of not only the "N" word, but the "B" word as well.

I wondered how she would be received. This is after all not the audience of the third party in this time slot, Michael Baisden of nationally syndicated "Love, Lust and Lies" fame on WBLS-FM, which skews to a bit more, how should I put it -- enlightened audience -- than Wendy's or Lover's. But they loved her. And more than that, they were honored by her presence. Oprah never talked down to the callers or to Lover. Equally important, she didn't try to be hip (jiggy with it!). She was just pure Oprah, talking about her favs among rap music and putting to rest the myth that she hates it or that she has "beef" with rapper/actor Ludicious. She also confessed that "Mary J. Blige is a friend." Imagine that.

This could not have happened at a better time for Power 105. Just one day before it had to fire its top DJ, known as Star, for vile comments and threats against a competitor's 5-year-old child, even offering listeners a $500 bounty for her whereabouts so he could do an "R Kelly on her," a reference to the rapper accused of several underage sexual activities. Not only that, the station has been under fire for being well -- under fire. It seems that when many rappers and their posses show up for radio interviews, they get into shoot outs instead of shout outs. One of which occured a few days before, causing the NYPD to investigate and and the landlord to seek Power 105's eviction from the tony Soho nabe where it resides.

Back to Wendy Williams. For some time now, over a year, the "Queen" has referred to Oprah as a "friend in my head," and made it clear she wanted to interview her on the show. Then Gayle King, Oprah's assistant and real-life friend, did a Wendy interview. It was all very cordial, with Wendy asking polite questions about Orpah, her mate Stedman, etc., never really going over the top.

Wendy is no fool; you don't piss off Tom Hagen if you want an audience with Don Coleone. Gayle too, put to rest rumors that Oprah hated rap, Ludicious, etc. But it had not yet come from Oprah's lips. I'm certain that Wendy felt assured that, having treated the boss' assistant well, she would in turn be granted the interview she had been breathing heavy for. But it was not to be.

If I had to guess (in my own sick mind) I would say that Gayle was sent to set up Wendy. To ask her to get the proverbial cannolis over in Jersey. "I'll drive, hon." And Wendy took the bait, never pausing to think that there are perfectly good cannolis in Manhattan.

Why would Oprah/Gayle do such a thing? My intuition is that they were good and sick of Wendy's innuendos about them being a couple and wondering aloud (on nationally syndicated radio) if Stedman is gay, etc.

Should Oprah, media icon, global philantropist and legitimate power broker, appear on that nasty little show? A show where she might be asked about all of the above items and also such ditties as, "Are you a third input girl?" one of Wendy's favorite questions.

So instead, Oprah baits Wendy and Wendy swallows it whole. And Oprah shows class by being who she is and, for at least a segment, turns Ed Lover into Edward R. Murrow.

Well, almost.

The next day,while making no direct mention of the Lover interview while I was listening, Wendy did make some snipping remarks about Oprah and Gayle. She included a particularly tastelss remark (even by Wendy standards) about meeting Oprah years ago at a book signing. When the then pregnant Wendy asked Oprah to autograph her copy, she said that Oprah rubbed Wendy's pregnant stomach which in turn caused her to miscarry. "Oprah killed my baby!" Wendy laughed. Sad, because Wendy did in fact miscarry.

Wendy appeared to laugh it all off with her upbeat, self-assured style. But it sounded lke a boxer getting off the canvas after being knocked on his butt, rising and smiling as if to say, "Nah, you didn't hurt me," only to be put premanently on his ass seconds later.

But all isn't lost, Wendy. At least no one is shooting outside of your office -- yet.