If you didn't see The Apprentice last night, long story short: Randal won, Trump asked him if he should hire the loser as well, and Randal said NO. The sentiment was that there is to be ONE winner.
Of course, the next morning, white America has turned the once coolblackguy ((c) Paul Beatty) into the horrible, arrogant, ungracious sonofabitch.
I posted the following comment on a message board this morning and thought it was good enough to make it in the blog.
***
I have a quick anecdote.....
This year, I was asked to speak on a panel about gay/lesbian/bisexual issues at my alma mater. I was chosen as the Alumni speaker. The other speakers represented single entities, such as the LGBT club on campus, another campus club that was specifically about coming out, the Women's Center, a Dean, a lesbian prof, and a gay male prof.
I sent out an email to my gay alumni group saying I was picked to be the alumni speaker. Well, one of the group moderators said "That's great, but did they contact so-and-so or so-and-so? I think YOU should contact them and see if they want to participate."
I completely ignored the email. Why should I need a sidekick in order to discuss the experiences of gay alums? Am I not a gay alum? I happened to know who both of the suggested speakers were, and they were both white.
So when I spoke about gay issues at Georgetown, I also spoke about how being a black gay man was not much different from just being a black man. There is still racism, there is still prejudice, there is still a notion that a black man, no matter how talented, cannot accurately represent a group that is majority white.
When trump asked Randal if he should hire Rebecca, I was so glad he said "Hell to the naw!" Because he was saying it, in my opinion, for every person of color who has been viewed as "good" but "not enough" to go it alone.
Trump really thought he was going to hire two people that night, and I'm so glad he didn't.
Yeah, Randal was a dick in the end, but so is Trump. If there was still a chance that Trump would pick Rebecca, Randal had to show that he's not a pushover. He wanted to win and did what he needed to do -- underscore why Rebecca would be the wrong choice.
For what it's worth, the organizer of the panel said that she, too, got an email implying that I wouldn't be "enough" -- she ignored it too.
Comments (6)
I am SO glad Randal was hired as the Apprentice! Brotha has skills, talent, education and drive. I kid you not; I jumped over to TVSquad and checked the entry on them and white folks are calling him everything but a child of God and saying he's a by-product of affirmative action. Are you kidding me? That kind of backwards thinking and rationalization smacks of White privilege and ignorance. Hell, from last night, I found it laughable that Trump had to rationalize his decision by asking Randal if he should have hired Rebecca. What kind of set-up is that?
Posted by karsh | December 16, 2005 9:42 AM
Posted on December 16, 2005 09:42
You hit the nail right on the head. By the way check out www.savvy101.blogspot.com today you might find it interesting frater.
Posted by savvy101 | December 16, 2005 11:23 AM
Posted on December 16, 2005 11:23
I don't think Randall was a dick. Any other year did Trump ask if he should hire both people? Including the first year when Omorosa (be-yotch) sabotaged the African American contestant? It's like he was doing everything he could to make up for hiring the Black Guy. "lets all be winners... yeah that will work!'
Posted by mr | December 16, 2005 11:29 AM
Posted on December 16, 2005 11:29
...waving...Hey Rashid...
I love that Randal won, but that was some bullshit last night. Trump was wrong for putting old boy on the spot like that but he comes out smelling like a rose and Randal looks like the bad guy. Damn straight it's not The Apprenti. Nor is it Survivors or American Idols. On EW.com the journalist who wrote the show review said that she wanted Randal to go to hell for this. It's not that serious but that's white ameriKKKa for you.
Posted by Butta | December 16, 2005 11:09 PM
Posted on December 16, 2005 23:09
Yo you are more than enough...
That is right, Randal should have said NO. There needs to be one clear winner. He did his thing and deserved it. No one else has to share their victory.
I was watching the View and Miss America told Star that she wouldn't have allowed the runner-up to share her crown. That is why you are in a contest. There needs to be one victor and clear losers. She is a loser. I love that he said no. Loved it!!!
Posted by N4R | December 17, 2005 1:49 AM
Posted on December 17, 2005 01:49
I haven't watched the US version although they do show it here, they had a british version and the winner was a black dude named Tim and the runner up an asian woman named Saira.
I was shocked because black and asian people in the UK do not win reality tv shows, in fact i think he's still the only reality tv show winner the UK has ever had.
But to hear the stunt they tried to pull on the US survivor is even more shocking because i thought the US were more chill about those kinda things...how wrong was i.
Posted by annie | December 19, 2005 10:47 AM
Posted on December 19, 2005 10:47