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N.O.I. -- You want some of this???
From Jasmyne Cannick:
On Friday evening, during the shooting of Noah’s Arc, America’s First Black Gay Television Series (MTV Logo), the Nation of Islam, led by Minister Tony Muhammad, led a protest against the show resulting in the show having to stop production. Approximately 150 Black Muslims along with Muhammad protested against the show near the intersection of Rodeo and 6th Avenue in Los Angeles.This is very serious and could happen again. Bigotry and intolerance cannot be ignored and accepted in our community any longer.
We cannot depend on the gay community at-large to take up our battles in our own community. We need to lead that fight. The Black community needs to see us.
If a community response if mobilized on behalf of Noah’s Arc and the community at-large, would you participate?
Because we are dealing with the Nation of Islam, it would be a disservice to organize a counter-protest to only have it attended by a handful of people or people that are not African American given the Nation’s history with people who are Black. I know it’s not pretty, but the facts are the facts. And this is not to exclude anyone from participating, but to make it clear that if this is going to work in favor of our community, then the Black LGBT community is going to be instrumental in making that happen.
Please post your response. If the community isn’t in support of such an effort then we will not move forward.
If the Nation of Islam can get 150 people out in 15 minutes, we should be able to do that plus more.
As Maya Wilkes from Girlfriends would say...
"Oh...HAYLE no!"
In this country, people have the right to protest. You know, freedom of speech and all that. But you know what? I have a REALLY big problem with mofos infringing on my right to create art, no matter how controversial that art is.
I mean, what if the Nation decided to come to my house and cut the power off?
What if the Pope ran a magnet over my hard drive?
What if a gang of Hassidic Jews came to Riggs Park and trashed my little "home office?"
Or worse yet, what if Rev. Daly Barnes (my former pastor once upon a time) just stood over my shoulder as I wrote and just told me how wrong, wrong, wrong I was and how I'm going to hell?
That would suck and it's not fair! You can't just do that to artists.
Now, I've only seen one trailer for Noah's Arc, and that was a year ago. Was I impressed by the acting? Eh, not so much. But I was impressed by what it was -- the first. Star Trek is not impressive, but we can appreciate it for what it is and what it means. In the long run, I don't think Lazarus will be my most impressive work, but I had to get my start somewhere, eh?
It's not cool to force this show to stop production through protests. Just don't watch it.
Ugh, now I'm pissed off.
Update: It is possible that this wasn't an anti-gay incident. Read Keith Boykin's blog for more reporting.
PS - This is my 400th post!
Posted by Rashid on August 10, 2005 8:33 AM
Comments
man, thas jus crazy... Noah's Arc is jumping all kinds of obstacles.
Commented by dari tai on August 12, 2005 2:12 AM