Black People, Decorum and Privilege
Posted by: elledub08 on: September 15, 2009
As I settle into another work week, I realize that this hasn’t been a good couple of days for Black America. First, Serena Williams loses her shit after a bad call during the US Open, which cost her the match. Then, Kanye decides to be a jerk (again) and ruin country music star Taylor Swift’s very first acceptance speech at the VMA’S by bum rushing the stage and declaring Beyonce’s Single Ladies video the greatest of all time.
The two situations above may seem very different, but I think the only difference between Kanye’s outburst and Serena’s outburst was a bottle of Hennessey. These are grown ass people who are fairly young. Black, and at the top of their game. So why did they act out in public like they could get away with it?
The way I see it, Serena and Kanye’s fame and talent, and even their wealth will not make up for their lack of privilege. Kanye didn’t get to perform at the VMA’s and was escorted out of the event. Serena lost the match and had to pay a $10,000 fine for her behavior. It wasn’t waved away as just being “colorful” the way it was when McEnroe did it, and I’ll venture to say that it’s because she is a Black woman and he is a white male. No matter how high a Black celebrity climbs, they will not just be a celebrity getting out of pocket, they will be a Black celebrity getting out of pocket. They will not escape their lack of privilege to do certain things and be able to LOL it up on the David Letterman show the next week.
That’s not to say I”m excusing Kanye and Serena’s behavior because I think both of them showed an extreme lack of decorum and what my Nana would call “home training.” Everyone has to be accountable for their actions, but what I need for Black celebrities to understand is that their fame doesn’t put them on an equal playing field with white celebs that act out in a similar manner. Get your decorum game up and let’s cut back on the nigga moments from here on out.
So what you think? Does a lack of privilege mean greater attention to our public behavior?
8 Responses to "Black People, Decorum and Privilege"
September 15, 2009 at 11:34 pm
I disagree with the idea that Kanye and Serena are getting hammered harder because of race. I think that unfortunately the “race is a factor” argument is too slippery a slope because it hypothetically can implied nearly all the time. If any black person is caught doing something wrong the argument can always be dragged out “If a white person did it they wouldn’t have gotten it as bad”
The way the media is, if you were looking for stories about Kanye West you could find them if you wanted. If you wanted to ignore the story you could to. The idea that they went overboard on Kanye is to think that the media doesn’t go overboard on everything, look at how Kate from John & Kate has been ripped viciously. The idea that the media pours onto a controversy is just part of the 24 hour media.
When McEnroe was playing there were only 3 networks and no 24 hour news, and people did hate McEnroe back in the day. The reason people don’t seem to remember so well is because you’d have to be near 45 years old to remember tennis in McEnroe’s day and also that nostalgia has a habit of glossing over part of the past. If you research it, you will see McEnroe often got point penalties for arguing and was even thrown out of games for misconduct. He has recovered now 20 odd years later, but if a lot of people did not care for him in the early 80s.
I guess the only thing I think of with the whole race is a factor thing, is Michael Richards and how his career is basically over at this point, he’ll be on Curb, but no one is giving him roles. Mel Gibson does not star in movies anymore and has to self-finance the ones he directs. So I think Kanye and Serena are pretty bad examples of it being a race thing. They both have the privilege of being rich which trumps most everything.
September 17, 2009 at 2:01 am
From a wider point of view:
I understand the argument to an extend. But as far as helping to end/avoid racism, I no longer think that being the super duper Negro with exceptional manners is the way to go. Whether you’re the good or bad boy, if you’re a minority, you’re going to encounter racism.
From a narrower view:
But looking at the “outbursts” individually, and considering their natural talents, wealth, past success and career field, Serena and Kanye have not made the “dumb nigger” faux pas some people seem to think. In other words, they’re going to be able to live this down and go on with their careers.
September 28, 2009 at 8:27 pm
First off, great blog.
Secondly, I agree. I agree with white media jumping
on everything colored. Fiercely judging and condemning actions, which in Ye’s case, I do disagree on, but why this witch hunt?
And calling someone a jackass is an opinion, but understand that this jack of all musical trades represents a voice. I’d rather have someone with an opinion, than a so-called role model that follows like a sheep of the mass.
I guess a lot people do not realize that colored people do have to work harder, try harder, run harder, only to be noticed. And please run to your computer to reply to that. But understand that you need to have walked a mile in my shoe, to understand where I’m coming from.
Keep up the great work.
Keep expressing your voice.
Greets, 7thour.
September 28, 2009 at 8:29 pm
By the way, I’ve added your blog to my links, hope you don’t mind!
http://poetic-sense.blogspot.com/
October 20, 2009 at 12:35 pm
“So what you think? Does a lack of privilege mean greater attention to our public behavior?”
Well, yes, and no, and sometimes. In these cases, not so much.
Kanye has a history of jumping on stages, and egotistical behaviour, and interrupted an award ceremony to give his own opinion, which is behaviour like I’ve never seen before, so I’m not surprised at the coverage he got.
Serena though, well I don’t know. There’s rules to the game, she broke them, and got a penalty point. If white players are getting away with bad behaviour without being penalised or if black players are being penalised when they shouldn’t be, that should be possible to prove – but I don’t think you can draw that conclusion from this event.
November 17, 2009 at 3:50 am
So Serena’s outburst, in which she threatened to kill the line judge, equivalent to John McEnroe’s? I remember him smashing rackets and calling umpires names, but I don’t recall him threatening to kill umpires or line judges. Sorry, but how they treated her is not based on her race; it’s based on her deplorable behavoir.
And how do you know that the line judge’s foot fault call was incorrect, Loryn?
November 17, 2009 at 6:08 am
i wasn’t implying that she treated her that way _because_ she was black–but i was saying that people’s reactions would be different given that she was a black athlete
i’m not saying this is foolproof or that i’m 100 percent correct but at the time that this post was written those were my thoughts. doesn’t mean they have to be write 
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September 15, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Thanks for the insight post!
The racial and gendered overtones here seem much more prominent to me than even the lack of privilege. Let me be clear: I think both Serena and Kanye acted like spoiled children and their actions shouldn’t be excused. However, the public reaction has been um, a little lopsided (esp with Serena).
Even on CNN they were discussed the way McEnroe used to act and how much he used to swear – so much so they couldn’t even show a ‘bleeped’ clip on the air – but how he was different because he never ‘menaced’ an official, etc. I cry bullshit. I think the reason people are criticizing Serena more is that she’s a (black) woman. Women aren’t “supposed” to get all angry and in someone’s face. They are just supposed to accept what is given to them and get over it.
While I honestly think Kanye West is just a jackass, I can still smell some of that racial/gender stink around the coverage of his actions. Here comes a black man jumping up on stage and menacing a small, white woman. It’s enough to make the white media freak right now. And yeah, that’s what they did.